Sri C. SttA AAMAMURTi. M.A.

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\TIll

'lfinro ~ri ~ri$~lta

who has fascinated the worldly folk with His mysterious pranks and miraculous exploits.

who has enchanted the spiritual aspirants with His effulgent presence

and illuminating message,

who has charmed the ardent devotees with His magnetic personality and overflowing love,

this humble work is reverently inscribed and offered at His auspicious footstool for His gracious acceptance.

C. Sita Ramamurti

CONTENTS

Page

Preface
Introduction
I. Vishnu Bhaktas :
1. Prahlada
2. Dhruva
3. Ambarisha
4. Rantideva
5. Ajamila
6. Gajendra
7. Kuchela
8. Narada 1

L

II. Devas and Oaityas :

9. Ksheerasaagara mathana

10. Iswara and Jaganmohini

11. Emperor Bali and Vamana

III. Krishna's Birth and Childhood: 12. Sri Krishna Jananam

The Child's miraculous exploits

13. Putana

14. Sakataasura

15. Trinaavarta

16. Notable incidents in Nandavraja

1 1 1 1

IV. Sojourn in Brindavana :

17. Over to Brindavana

18. Brahrna's manoeuvre

19. Balarama and Krishna as leaders 70. Dhenukaasura

1 1 1

21. Kaleeyamardanam 171
22. The Play of seasons 180
23. Gopika Vastraapaharana 187
24. Ang irasa sacrificia I rites 194
25. Govardhanoddharanam 198
26. Release of Nanda 208
27. Day-time a hell for women 210
28. Romance by moonlight 211
29. More exploits 233
V. Toward the Catastrophe:
30. Narada meets Krishna 240
31. Kamsa's Strategy 241
32. Krishna in Mathura 252
33. Confrontation in full swing 258
34. Liquidation of Kamsa 269
35. Mathura after Kamsa 275
Epilogue:
Rukmini Kalyanam 278 ·

1

PREfACE

Deeply impressed with the brilliant narrative, expressive imagery and poetic exuberance of Potana's classic, Srimad B,hagavatam in Telugu, I was prompted to render into English Prose .sorne episodes relating to certain Devotees of Vishnu .. the Churning of the Sea of Milk. the Incarnation of Vamana, and of Krishna from his birth to Karnsa's fall. Translating Potana's epic is bevcnd my competence. Mine is a humble effort to follow his narrative to the extent possible and to record at relevant places my observations in the light vouchsafed to me. This is primarily an exercise meant to fill time for my own benefit. I am keenly conscious of what I am, a novice aspiring for new life; in fact,

"An infant crying in the night,

An infant crying for the light, And with no language but a cry."

And so there is no point in giving publicity to this juvenile work. But friends and relatives, who know of my toil, are particular that it should see the light of day for what it is worth. The acceptance of my book by T. T. Devasthanams for financial aid signifies to me that the Lord of the Seven Hills has sanctified with His touch my labour of love. And so I venture to place it before the reader for his consideration.

Acknowledgments:

I express my thanks to Sri M. V. S. Prasad, I.A.S., and the members of the T. T. D. Trust Board for the sanction of financial aid of Rs. 10,000/- for the publication of the book;

I am deeply indebted to my ever-esteemed mentor, Sriman Sribhashyam Appalacharyulu garu, M.A" for his direction and guldance in my work;

I am grateful to all friends and relatives for their interest in my labours and sustained encouragement;

I appreciate the help volunteered by Chiranjeevi P. Srinivasa Chakravarti in preparing a neat typescript for ihe Press;

I thank the Proprietor, Sree Lakshmi Press, Guntur, and his staff for their active cooperation in the neat and speedy execution of the printing work.

C. SITA RAMAMURTI

· . ~ .,

..

11

INTRODUCTION

Sage Vyasa has classified the Vedas; he has-expounded eighteen Puranas; he has producedarnonumental'wot1k; Maha Bharatarn, which is universally acclaimed as the Fifth Veda (Panchama Veda). It is strange that even sucbe savant as he becomes enveloped in a gloom of oheartessness arid despondency. The divine minstrel. Naarada,'appears before him, pinpoints the cause for his sadness and counsels him to get relief by working on Bhagavatam. Naarada is an offspring: of the mind (maanasaputra) of Brahma, the Creator. of the' Universe; he is a perfect sage (jnaani); he knows the' nature of the Supreme and His countless auspicious attributes; he is an ardent saint (bhakta); he clings to Him with intense love and devotion. He is a powerful propagandist of virtue and righteousness; he expels ignorance (ajnaana) and instils knowledge (jnana); he manipulates conflict between the forces of good and evil, between the divine and the demoniac propensities, and ensures victory of virtue over wickedness. Brahma himself has directly enlightened Naarada on Bhagavatam which lord Vishnu has, earlier, inculcated in him in a condensed

form of four stanzas. Thus Naarada is admirably qualified to ..

impart the sacred composition to the disconsolate Vyasa, so as

to ena ble him to find speedy relief. Vyaasa with his ta lent for

intensive introspection and extensive elucidation produces a monumental masterpiece, Srimad Bhagavatam. Vyaasa imparts enlightenment to his son, Suka, with this devotional epic. Suka

is a born ascetic; he renounces everything, even a loin-cloth

(and moves about naked); and he sunders all attachments and

loses himself in the contemplation of the Supreme without a moment's respite. Even such as he, is unable to free himself

from the hold of Srimad Bhagavatam, for the simple reason

that its appeal is inescapable for one like him, who lives, moves

and has his being in the Lord Himself. Suka presents himself.

of his own accord, before the Pandava King, Parikshit. While

in his mother Uttara's womb, Parikshit had the darsan of

Lord Krishna destroying Aswatthama's potent shaft with his

disc and saving his life. The moment he was born, his eyes

,.,

III

cast searching glances all around to find his protector; and he was named Parikshit because of his keen examining looks. He has grown up to be a just king, an able ruler and a virtuous and devout person. He has made up his. mind to devote the brief span of just a week, before his I ife is to terminate under a curse, to listening to the uplifting stories of the lives of the devotees and the absorbing anecdotes of the Lord's mysterious exploits and miraculous deeds. And Suka finds an eminently eligible and eager seeker of salvation to whom he can impart, with cheerfulness and enthusiasm, the illuminating gospel of Srimad Bhagavatam.

The mind, as is well-known, is the arena where the fundamental qualities (sattvarajasthamo gunas) are engaged in constant churning in an attempt to regain relative ascendancy. If Sattva establishes superiority, the mind receives the impress of truth, righteousness, nobility, compassion or some other similar virtue; the celestials have this tendency and so they cling to God. If rajas or tames happens to be on the rise, the mind carries the taint of falsehood, injustice, meanness, wickedness or some such vice: the daityas develop these

• demoniac characteristics and range themselves against the Supreme. But peace and happiness cheer the lives of the devotees; while fear and suspicion haunt the enemies of God making their lives miserable. It is true that the virtuous and the vicious alike secure redemption in the end, the former by their unstinted and loyal devotion (bhakti) and the latter by their unmitigated and persistent hostility (pago). Srimad Bhagavatam impresses the readers with the magnificence and supremacy of the Lord's majesty (ounnatya), enlightens them on the magnitude and extensiveness of His affluence (aisvaryo), thrills them with the inexhaustible abundance of H is considerateness (vaatsalya) and easy availability of His overflowing love (premo) •

Bhagavatam inculcates in us knowledge of the nature and attributes of Bhagavan. The Agamas propound a five-fold concept of the Lord: Paratattva, Vyoohatattva, Vibhavatattva, antaryaamitattva and Archaatattva. The Supreme Phenomenon

ii)

(Parabrahma) is the G'reat One of exceptional brilliance, the 'Primal Cause (Kaarona), the Over-Soul (Poramatma), the All-per-vasiveSoirtt, Sustalner, arid Ordainer of theUniverse, Existencel Consoiousnesa-Bttss (satchitaananda).

ThisParatattva expresses Itself in four luminous forms (Yyuhas) for the purposes of creation (srishti), maintenance (stiti), dissolution (Iaya), liberation (moksha), and propagation 'Or dissemination of Vedas (Vedapravartana). These are called, Vaasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. Vaasudevatattva is the expression of six auspicious characteristics in all their completeness-Pure Knowledge (jnaana), unequalled might (bala), inexhaustible affluence (aisvarya), inextinguishable effulgence (te)as), unmitigated power (sakti) and never-failing vitality (veerya). This unexcelled form is known as Bhaqavaan Each of the three letters, Bha, ga and va, indicates two of the above six attributes; and the letter an (it:i) stands for the absence of all despicable and vicious qualities: thus Bhagavan is the One who has all the six auspicious qualities and is free

'from all blemishes. And He is the Supreme Being (Parabrahma) whom the liberated souls worship in Vaikuntha. The other

; three Vyuhas emerge for specific purposes, embodying in them- """

selves any two of the six qualities enumerated above. One of

'these forms lies on the Sea of Milk and when necessary manifests Itself in the world as Incarnations. But the Para and Vyuha tattvas are beyond the reach of aspirants, like nectarine waters of the Fresh Water Sea and clear waters embosomed in the clouds of the upper regions. That is why the Surpreme

. chooses to manifest Himself in incarnations and provides the devotees, who pine for Him, with opportunity to have a vision of His blessed form, and experience His gracious benevolence. Whenever righteousness (dharma) suffers distortion and heads towards collapse, the Lord takes birth to resuscitate it and to protect the virtuous and eliminate the wicked. His incarnations as Sri Rama and Sri Krishna are the most outstanding examples of the opulence of His affluence and glory (Vibhava avataaras). But such incarnations can be availed of only by those devotees who have lived in the times of their

occurrence; and they have no use fetpeople in other climes and at other times. They resemble mountain-streams which are in spate during rainy season; but which dry up in summer. when they are most needed. There is then the antaryaamltattva, by which the God-Phenomenon becomes immanent in every atom of creation and resides in the heart of every living being. The Lord is thus presently available to those who wish to have Him. He is withIn them; true. But few have the power of introspection to discover Him within their hearts; and even it they do, they have to draw Him up from the depths to enjoy, His presence. It is like digging the bowels of the earth for drawing water. It does not bring ready refiefto the parched tongue of a thirsty man. All attempts at worship of Para. Vyuha. Vibhava and Antaryami manifestations appear to bear no fruit, as they are beyond the reach of the ordinary run of mankind. Bhagavan has therefore graciously made Himself easily accessible to the spiritual aspirants by condescending to reside in the different forms of images, or figures cut in stone or wood; reared by them. each after his own heart, as objects of worship (archaamaortt's). Lord Krishna has declared in the Gita: "Ye yatha maam prapadyante taam sta dotve bhajaamyaham": "I shall appear and receive every devotee in the form and in the manner in which he worships Me." Be ita sage Ijnanf) ora devotee (bhakta). be it a man sorrowing for lost possessione (aC!lrti)cr one hungering for new acquisitions (artharthi). God graciously appears before him in all Hisfulness in the form chosen by him and accepts the, mode in which he offers his worship andfCJlfi'ls his prayers. Such facility is inherent 'in'this form of worship of an Idol (Archaamoorti). Innumerable aspirants have taken recourse to this approach and attained 'the same fruits as those elect few who directly adore the Abstract Supreme;

Besldes expounding the essential nature of God.,Pheno,:merion. Bhagavatam elucidates the outstanding qualities of HiSc devotees; the sages, savants andsaints. who cling.to Him in love and service. Implicit faith in the-exlstenee of the SupnefT'l'e~ strong conviction that he belongs to Him, an:d" ton:c\:le; eJise. tanectcusadberence to Him as the Be-alii and! the End.,.. a lhoft l1i$ life, absolute subrnlsslon MQ tQt~1 ~1,Irr~"g~r to liilTl ~~ hi~

vi

Lord and Ordainer, Protector and.Sustalnar, fervent trust in Him as the Purveyor of real happiness, culminating in ineffable bliss -:- these are the essential characteristics which distinguish a devotee of God (bhakta) from other people. The devotee, like every other person, seeks happiness as the highest desideratum of life. But what he pursues are not the pleasures of worldly life, not the epicurean ideal of "eat, drink and be merry", (Ioukika sukha) - not even the more sublimated joys of the celestial regions as a reward for austere penances or strict performance of rigorous Vedic rituals (paaramaarthika sukha). He knows that the former type are mere frothy evanescent bubbles. doomed to vanish when the body disintegrates; he is certain that the latter category are equally transitory as they exist so long, and only so long, as the merit inherent in such laudable exercises and observances lasts. That is why an illuminated intellect, like his. has nothing to do with such trinkets of little value. The devotee of God hankers after the joy inestimable, the joy that does not reside on land or sea or in the celestial spheres, the joy that knows no end, the bliss that lasts for ever at the Lord's footstool. His sale aim, his

single ambition, is how to attain it. The means to reach this ..

destination are variously designed and practised. One

approach is through the enlightened intellect, through know-

ledge' (jnana maarga), which.Is too abstract to conceive and too

tough to practise, except for the elect. A second way is

through performance of works (Karma maarga) which involves

rigorous discipline and strict compliance with Scriptural injunc-

tions and requires a renunciation of all expectation of reward

for the output - this, too. is clearly a hard option for most of

the yearners. The third path of devotion (bhakti maarga) seems

to be the most desirable choice; no qualification is prescribed

for those who take to this way; all those whose minds show

orientation towards the Lord are eligible. It matters not who

they are - men, women. children, animals, birds, reptiles or

insects - all, all are equallywelcome to tread along this path.

They need not renounce the world; they are not obliged to

leave their wives .and .children: they are not required to give up

their occupations. They may lead .thelr normal lives without

vii

inhibition. ~AII that they are "required to do is to tune their thoughts, words and actions to the promptings of rhetr conscienceo A strong and unwavering conviction that they belong to the Lord, and a conscious lively commitment to serve Him with all their minds, with all their hearts, with all their souls, are sure to revolutionise the tone and tenor of the lives of the aspirants and make them willing instruments in the Lord's hands, Their intellects get illumined with knowledge (jnana ); their minds become enlightened with renunciation (vairagya); their hearts get softened with love (prema). The company of devotees with profound spiritual experiences exhilarates and inspires them. They live pure; they speak true; they become good; they serve others; they bring peace on earth and spread goodwill among men. They are happy; and they make others happy. This is how seekers of salvation (mumukhsuvulu) turn into staunch devotees (bhaktas): and they reach the culmination in their saadhana, when devotion fructifies into pure love. This love is unique; it. is quite different from love that is manipulated with expectation to receive some benefit in return; it is not the same as love that is drawn out by the pressure of gratitude for' favours already received; it is distinct from love that is pushed forth by an inconvenient sense of duty or moral obligation, It stands apart - it is like the mother's love for the child; the mother does not love the child out of any sense of duty or of gratitude for conferment of motherhood or of expectation of benefit in future. It is above all cqnsiderations: it springs forth naturally, effortlessly, instinctively, spontaneously. The devotee's love wells up ceaselessly as from an inexhaustible fountain, softens his heart with anxious concern and solicitude and culminates in his pronouncement of benediction on the Lord Himself. The devotee feels that he must needs look after and protect the Protector of the Universe! Devotion can go no further; it has reached its zenith (bhakti paraakaasttha).

In this context, it is well to remember how the gopikas, love for Krishna mounts unusual spiritual altitudes. They love him because they cannot I ive without loving him; because they feel that they belong to him and to, none else; because they find life 'yvorihle!;;s without consecratlnq their all - body, mind,

heart 'and ,soul- to his serviu; because they enjoy ineffable bliss in his presence, nay, even in contemplating his company. Such is their exemplary soul-kinship, glorious spiritual at-oneness! The Alwars, the saintly devotees, seem to have reached these heights in their previous births after passing through the ordeals of arduous saadhana. They have adored the Lord with the flowers of truthfulness, righteousness, compassionateness, humilitv and such like virtues (pushpaarchana); they. have burnt their evil tendencies and unfortunate lapses at, the altar of repentance and wafted the fragrance of such incense before Him (dhoopam); they have lit the wicks of humility and purity and held them before Him tocheer Him(deepam);theyhave offered the cream of their love and devotion for His gracious .acceptance (naivedyam); in their' anxious concern to ward off the evil-eye from the entrancing form of' the, Lord, and in their solicitude for His well-being, they have pronounced, their benediction, unmindful, for the nonce, of His strength, power and supremacy. They have become absorbed in Him to such an extent that they are. unaware of their separateness from Him in the present birth. $0 they make no effort of their own to advance towards Him. It is for the Loyd to claim them as His own; it is for Him to make them instruments to proclaim His glory. As the Lord inspires them, they sing about their menta I stirrings and spiritual urges and fill the world with the abundance of the Lord's affluence and the magnitude of His gracious benevolence. In discharging this sacred mission, the AlwarsfrequenHy take recourse to transforming themselves, in their imagination, into gopikas; and holding the Supreme as the Entrancing Lover, they record in hymns their thrilling experiences with Him in union and their harrowing sufferings.in separation from Him.

While on this, it is relevantto make note of the difference in the reactions of the Lord towards the aspirant-devotees (mumukshuvufu) and the accomplished saints (a/waars). The Lord waits till the cry of anguish or the piteous appeal or the eager call comes to Him from the aspirant as in the cases of the collaoslnq Gajendra, the: panic-stricken, Dreupadi, the distraught

Rukmini. And then the response is instantaneous, Hehasteas. wi,th,the utmost expedition to effect their rescue.cr rederoptior;J,

viii

~trange to note that it is the devout saint that waits and that it is the Lord who takes the initiative and hastens to advance His claim of ownership over him, as witnessed in the employment of Vishnuchitta as the advocate to defend, propagate and establish the supremacy of the Vaishnava Cult in the Pandya court of Vallabhadeva; and in the assignment given by Sri Ranganatha to His high-priest to offer His love to Sri Godadevi and fetch her in all honour to become His consort. Whatever be the subtle distinction between saadhana bhaktl and saadhya bhakti, the Lord seems to be eager to make Himself readily available, and equally alert in effecting fulfilment of desires and in executing providential designs.

With this as the background, it becomes profitable to explore, after Potana, the workings of the Lord, as expressed in His incarnation as Sri Krishna, and in the lives of His devotees, put in juxtaposition witn the machinations of demoniac forces.

f - VISHNU SftAKT AS

I. PRAHLADA

The Devotee Non-pareil

Dharma, when properly discharged, brings in happiness.

Dharma is of three kinds: Loukika dharma: that which is concerned with the discharge of duties in the mundane world, of human and social obligations, which end in pleasures of an evanescent nature; (2) Paraloukika dharma: that which relates to performance of rites and rituals which earn heavenly joys which are only co-extensive with the merits acquired and so cease to operate when the merits get exhausted;(3)(Paramarthika dharma: that which involves the obsarvance of spiritual exercises which establish inseparable kinship with God and which secure everlasting bliss. This last one matures into loving devotion; in fact, there is no devotion (bhakti) without love (prema). And devotion finds expression in diverse ways: Narada's devotion is void of desire and passion, presents an equanimity of temper and radiates peace all around; Yasoda's devotion is intense and expresses itself in the anxious sol icitude (Vatsalya) of a mother for the child. The devotion of Akrura and Uddhava and others of their ilk takes the form of unflinching lovalty in rendering humble services (dasya). Kuchela's devotion is infused with the pure affinity of close, understanding friendship (sakhya); the devotion of the gopikas is an ali-engrossing, self-donating, passionate identification with the Entrancing Lover (madhura

bhakti) and so on. Prahlada's devotion is an inborn,

intuitive, uncultivated attachment that brooks no severance and culminates in complete at-one-ness with the Lord(Parama bhakti).

This section contains studies of eight devotees of Vishnu - Prahlada, Dhruva, Ambarisha, Rantideva, Ajamila, Gajendra, Kuchela and Narada. An attempt is made to distinguish their attitudes and approaches to the Lord and estimate their significance. And now to the study of Prahlada, the devotee non-pareil.

Episodes from Bhaqavatam

The Danavas are a race of giants. They have enormous strength and inexhaustible courage and irresistible powers. Affluence and power have swollen their heads with insolence

and pride; they misuse their laudable talents and take delight in licentious pursuits and acts of wickedness. Their rulers, Hiranyakasipu and Hiranyaksha, have acquired notoriety for their lives of unrestrained abandon and virile hostility to celestials and other righteous people. It is good to have a giant's strength; but to use it as a giant leads to universal disaster.

Hiranyaksha perpetrates, out of sheer wantonness, the nefarious act of rolling the Mother Earth and concealinq her in the fathomless depths of the vast ocean, thus causing a universal catastrophe. It is to release the Earth from this gruesome captivity that Hari, the Protector of the universe, assumes the form of a white boar and puts an end to the monstrous Danava. On hearing this news of his brother's death at Hari's hands, Hiranyakasipu is shocked for a while; and flying into rage, vows vengeance against his brother's murderer. He consoles his sorrowing mother and grief-stricken sister- in-law with words of

philosophic wisdom. Moved by fraternal love and pity for the .~

bereaved, qualities in themselves admirable and above board,

he undertakes the task of avenging his brother's death, without bestowing any thought on the wickedness of his brother's

criminal offence and how eminently he has deserved death for

it. Rage is alien to reason and it ignores justice.

Feeling diffident that his present strength will not avail against his formidable enemy, he undartakes a rigorous penance to obtain Lord Brahma's favour. Penance, in itself a sacred and praise-worthv exercise, geto::; defiled at its very source for its rajasic element, as its purpose is deflected for dire vengeance. But such is the single-minded, unperturbed and steady pursuit of penance of the sturdy and tenacious Danava over a long stretch of time,without minding the disintegration of his physical frame and capacities, that the celestials are stricken with panic about the baneful effects of that rigorous exercise on the universe. They implore Brahma's immediate. intercession to avert the catastrophe.

P.rahlada

Brahrna appears before Hlranvakasipu, pats him on the back in an approving way, expresses how pleased he is with .hls inexorable penance, invites him to mention his desire and offers to grant it without any reservation. The Danava grabs tA~ opportunltv thus given and seeks the boon of a charmed life - a life that cannot come to peril from any created object (man, beast, bird, insect, reptile etc.), or from celestial beings (devas, vakshas, gandharvas etc.), or during any part of day or night .. or through any weapon, active or lifeless, or on the earth or in aerial region and so on 'and so forth. It is an extensive listof conditions of security which he enumerates in his anxjetyt~ secure maximum protection for his life from danger. Brqhm~ acquiesces in his request, though he knows it to be pre~s'te .. rous. Hiranyakasipu is elated; none can now:da~e withstand his onslaught; none can ever think of bringing about his death. He can now wreak ve nqeance against Hari, push throJ.jgh his huge project of reprisal and make an oblation of Hari's blood tq avenge his brother's spirit. He is now sure that he will redeeJ11 his commitment to his mother and sister-in-law. The belief that Brahma's boon is a guarantee against death rouses in him all his natural demoniac qualities of arrogance, self-conceit# hard-heartedness, cruelty and vengefulness to their full frenzy:

He feels that he is invincible. His will, however whimsical, is law. The world lies prostrate before him. He goes in quest qf his swam enemy but does not find him. He rates Hari a rank coward who is lurking somewhere in abject fear. His haute~r leads him a step further and he declares defiantly that Hari has ceased to exist.

When Hiranyakasipu is away on Mount Mandara doing his fierce penance, Indra avails himself of the opportunity, invades the Danava capital, routs the defending forces, takes captive and carries off Queen Leelavati (who is in the family way) for fear that the son she brings forth may prove a far greater menace to the celestials. Leelavati raises a howl seeking help. Narada intervenes and arraignsindr.a of Ul1lworthy conduct. Indra explains that his intention in capturing her is to avert the impending evil by putting an end to the habv ant~ birth and then release t.eelavati. ('iarac;la assures- Indr~ lha~ I;jj~

4

Episodes from Bhagavatam

fears are] ill-founded; that the lady bears in her womb a great devotee of Hari; that it is beyond his power to kill him even if he wants to. Indra relents as he is himself a devotee of Hari and releases Leelavati. Narada offers her refuge and takes her to his hermitage. He initiates the unborn child into the essentials of pure knowledge and the springs of righteous conduct. Thus the child emerges as a born devotee of Hari. It is a mysterious irony of Providential ordination that Hiranyakasipu should beget a child imbued from birth with devotion to Harl, his sworn enemy. It is this inborn godliness which gives the child (Prahl ada) precedence over other persons who have, by dint of spiritual discipline, reached the status of devotees. Even Narada, his preceptor yields to him the pride of place in the hierarchy of devotees: "Prahlada, Narada, Parasara, Pundarika. Vyasa" etc.

When Prahlada is five years old, his father entrusts him to the care of his preceptor Sukracharya's sons, Chanda and Amarkar, and requests them to teach him the Sastras and code of conduct suitable to the Danava race. The teachers wonder at the precociousness of the child; he grasps the lessons at one swoop thus showing his intellectual sharpness; he reproduces them without a single lapse, thus displaying his retentive memory. He conducts himself with perfect calm and humilitv, thus exhibiting his innate refinement and culture. The qualities of his head and heart, his reverential approach to elders, his high regard for women as worthly of filial devotion, his amicable disposition towards all living beings as deserving equal consideration, have astounded the onlookers. He is universally admired as the pink of courtesy (e:J()6 ~O"g6J~), a model of refined conduct, worthy of emulation. But the child does not find interest in secular studies; they appear tasteless and unsavoury, barren and fruitless; deprived of spiritual content, they are a heavy burden, unprofitable and valueless.

Hiranyakasipu wishes to examine the progress Prahlada has made in his studies. He seats him on his lap, fondles him With a tap on his head and a kiss on his cheek and urges him to tell him wh~l he has learnt from him preceptors. The little urchin.

Prahlada

5

whose very being is saturated with love of Hari and devotion to Him, declares his conviction that what makes life meaningful and glorious is, the constant praise of Hari and loyal service to Him and that all other studies are absolutely worthless. Worldly possessions, wealth and affluence, position and power, however vast and grand, are evanescent; they wither and fade out in course of time. On the other hand, spiritual wisdom, even in a low measure, becomes a permanent acquisition; adoration of Hari grows into a ceaseless occupation; enjoyment of everlasting bliss, which flows as a consequence, remains a precious possession. This reply shocks the King; consternation is writ large on the faces of the teachers at this unexpected answer. The King is thoroughly displeased with the preceptors; he has never anticipated such treachery from them. But they hasten to affirm their loyalty to him; they have all along been his friends and well-wishers; and they are the sons of Sukracharya; how then can they vitiate the prince's mind against the Danava creed and code? The King's annoyance tones down. He turns his kindly gaze on his son and coaxingly enquires from whom he has received this hostile instigation. Prahlada gently reaffirms that orientation to Hari and appreciation of His glory cannot be prompted by any of those immersed in secular interests and pursuits, but they should emerge only from those anointed with the sacred dust off the feet of the Supreme Lord, There is no doubt that all the Sastras put together fail to liberate a person from the coils of samsara; the only hope of release rests with the effort to win the favour of Hari. It is astounding that this exhilarating spiritual exhortation comes from a lad of five summers.

But his words are gall and wormwood to the Danava King. Enraged, he forcibly pushes his son down from his lap and raves : "Here is a stripling, not full five years in age, who dares defy his mighty father and turning a slave to his sworn

," enemy indulges in his praise, not even minding how Hari has killed his dear uncle. No, this traitor should not be shown any mercy. This unnatural anti-racial virus must be immediately nipped in the bud". Hiranyakasipu issues a severe command to his attendants to subject his son to torture or if necessary to put an end to him! as sparing him Will I;>~ a. menace ~0 the

6

Episodes from Bhagavatam

entire race. The attendants know their master's mind; they carry out his orders without flinching; they pierce Prahlada with spears; they pound him with clubs. But the child makes no moan; he does not protest; he does not flee; he does not call for help from his companions; he does not seek shelter in his mother's chambers; he does not charge his father with cruelty. He endures the thrusts with perfect calm with his mind rooted in Hari. As each stroke hits him, he glorifies fhe Lord, 'Kesava'. 'Madhava', 'Narayana' etc. While he recks not what happens to him, his loving concern for Hari urges him to provide a shield for Him from torture; and so he places his hands firmly on his bosom so that the Lord within is not hurt. Such is his devotional solicitude for Him that he tries to protect the Protector of the Universe I It is strange that torture does not shatter his spirit, nor make him resile from his stand. He

does not recant, nor does he plead for mercy. No, he clings to his convictlon'that Hari is the Supreme and that He will never forsake His devotee.

Hiranvakaslpu becomes furious when he is informed that corrective punishment has proved ineffective and that his son remains obdurate. He loses himself in demoniac frenzy and subjects his son to innumerable methods of cruel torture. Elephants tread on him but fail to crush him to pulp; serpents bite him but he remains unaffected by their venom. He is flung into raging fire but he is not scalded at all. He is rolled along the mountain-sides but his body remains in tact without suffering even a scratch; he is exposed to scorching heat but remains unscathed; he is flung into deep waters but they fail to stifle his breath. Fierce cyclones prove powerless to challenge his grit. Clubs and spears, swords and axes, stones and other missiles, employed against him alike fail to shake the boy's spirit. All conceivable implements of torture are exhausted; and the little boy shines with his limbs in tact, with his mind vigorous and his spirit cheerful as ever. Not a whisper of eornplalnt.inot a whimper of pain, not even a trace of cheerlessness, how wonderful! He justifies his name. He isPrahlada, the quintessence of joy; he lives and moves and has his being in spiritual happiness, he thrives and revels in his. natlve ~'l~ment QfineffabJe bliss,

~rahlada

7

Hiranyakasipu is perplexed at the utter futility of his efforts to turn his son's mind away from Hari. He is in supreme command of all elements of Nature, of all created beings, of all celestial hordes. His name sends a shiver along their spines. Terror holds him in dread. Death shrinks before.him. But this puny creature defies his authority with impunity. Wherefrom does he get this strength to resist him? Evidently, its source lies unseen within him; and that is why no external force can destroy-it. For the first time in his life, this enfeebling thought upsets his over-confidence in his security, Could it be that his son is meant to become the instrument of his ruin? Depression overwhelms him and flings him into the slough of despair and despondency. Coming to know of his plight, Chanda and Amarkar hasten to him and assure him that they will renew their efforts with redoubled vigour and bring about the needed change in Prahlada's outlook and attitude and that, when their fatherSukracharya returns, things will automatically change and shape well for the race, the King and the realm. The King is relieved of tension and entrusts his son to their care and wholesome instruction.

But the renewed efforts of the teachers to turn Prahlada into a votary of Danava tradition meet with utter failure. There is no perceptible change in the child's attitude. He shows deference to the preceptors as usual but attaches no importance to their teachings. He goes a step further; spreads his views among his companions and impresses on them how valueless is the knowledge imparted to them, as it contains nothing that really matters; nothing about understanding the Supreme Hari and how to attain Him. He succeeds in infecting them with his own faith. The children are inspired and join him in the glorification of Hari. Thus, what started as a personal protest from Prahlada now assumes the form of a mass revolt, ending in wholesale denunciation of the preceptors' teaching. Matters are swiftly changing from bad to worse and, if not checked in time, may head towards an unmanageable crisis. The teachers inform the King of this new development and give vent to their perplexity that his own son - flesh of his flesh and blood of his blood - should so stubbornly refuse to turn away

Episodes from Bhaqavatarn

from Hari. The King is beside himself with rage; his fury recalls to mind a blazing fire assisted by a virulent wind; it presents the picture of a trodden snake spouting deadly poison. He looks like a wounded lion roaring for instant vengeance. There is no time to lose. He decides to make a last effort to free the child from this inglorious 'infatuation' by direct confrontation.

He summons Prahlada to his august presence and charges him with treachery to his King, his country and his race. He cautions him that to brave the conqueror of the worlds, the vanquisher of all celestials, amaras, kinneras, gandharvas, yakshas, vidyadharas, dikpalakas, vihagas, nagas and all others known for valour and prowess, is to invite certain death to himself. He asks him on whose strength he counts for rescue when faced with that danger. Prahlada stands unruffled. With the courage that piety and devotion to Hari give him, he quietly affirms that the same Lord who has given such might and power to his father and who sustains all living creatures, has given him the strength and inspired him with courage to declare His supremacy and sovereignty; and to that Lord he turns for refuge and protection. The little child dares to counsel his father to consider that his own mind is his enemy; and that when the six formidable internal fOGS of Desire, Anger, Greed, De lus ion (or Infatuation), Arrogance and Jealousy (kama; krodha, lobha, moha, mada, matsarya), the aberrations and perversities of the mind, are brought under control, there is no room for an enemy; that the whole universe then appears friendly and amiable. Advice is bitter; and when it is tendered gratuitously to an enraged person, however wholesome it may be, it acts as poison. A tyrant brooks no disobedience; much less can he condone the audacity of anyone who bandies words with him, even if that one happens to be his own dear child. Demoniac frenzy overpowers Hiranyakasipu.

The confrontation has reached the climax. The King declares that he has made a search for Had several times and has not found him. He challenges his son io tell him where He is and how He moves about. Breathing devotion from every pore of his being, Prahlada pours forth his conviction that there

Prahlada

is no place where he is not; there is no time when he is not. He is All-pervasive; He is Eternal; He is Immanent in all creatures; nothing exists outside Him. He is the Encircling One; He is. here, there, everywhere and at the same time; He is ubiquitous Wherever the eye of faith casts its look, there certainly He is:

There is no room for doubt in this. This is the naked truth, if only his father is prepared to listen to it. Hiranyakasipu's doqqad unbelief "Vishnu is nowhere" meets with a tremendous rebuff-at Prahlada's firm conviction, "Vishnu is now here",

Here are father and son, representing respectively the demoniac and the divine forces, pitted one against the otherthe mighty giant Goliath storming the tiny tot David. The devotee does not lose his calm and composure when the tyrant indulges in thunderous bluff and frightening bluster. Stubborn unbelief and presumptuous negation falter before strong faith and self-confident assertion. Tenacity in inflicting endless torture to extort obedience to absolute authority only meets with unshakable resistance and immeasurable fortitude, if only to establish how loyalty to the Royal within cannot be annihilated by such penal violence. Prahlada scores final triumph in this struggle, if only to prove that intuitive absorption of spiritual light and innerstrength of God-vision are more than a match to crass ignorance, cussed ingratitude and haughty defiance of the very Source from which flow all affluence and power. The picture of this conflict conveys the wholesome lesson that spectacular glamour of evanescent trivialities like pelf and power fades in a trice when it comes face to face with the innate brilliance of eternal Truth.

But H iranvakasipu will not be the monstrous giant that he s, if he does not carryon the fight, knowing fully well that he is doomed to imminent fall. He draws his reeking sword from the sheath, flashes it in the air and gnashing his teeth challenges his son to prove the existence of Hari in the pillar before him and strikes it with all the vehemence of his might. And 10 and behold! out of the crumbling column emerges the terrible manifestation of Hari in the form of Man-Lion 1 Consternation seizes the entire court; the assemblage is petrified and stricken dumb. Instead of falling prostrate before the Lord in meek

2)

10

Episodes from Bhagavatam

surrender, the foolhardy· Danava strikes the Lord, under the belief that the opportunity has now come to him to redeem his promise of avenging his brother's death. Even when every thing is lost, the evil-doer refuses to see the writing on the wall. His obtuseness blinds him to the reality of danger from the astounding Phenomenon of obvious superiority before him. Narahari throws him back. But the King returns to attack through sheer perversity and thus invites his own ruin. The Lord holds H iranyakasipu in H is firm grip; drags him to the threshold, lays him flat on H is thighs, cleaves his bosom with His razor-sharp nails, and laps up his blood with His protruding tongue •. Thi~j terrible operation frightens and imrnobilises the onlookers gathered there. Lakshmi. Siva, Brahma, lndra, the Devas and the Rishis recover from the shock and ra ise a paean of praise, glorifying the Lord. But Narahari does not soften; His forbidding presence remains unchanged. Even the Divine Consort who is close and intimate with Him and whose influence on Him is quite considerable, now feels nervous even to approach Him. How then can any other dare to pacify Him? It is now left for Prahlada, whose mind, being attuned to the Divine Will, knows no fear and remains calm, to approach the Lord and plead for mercy. The Lord responds to his prayer and assumes His usual gracious and amiable form. Strange to see, a- bright streak of lig~t emanates from the dead Danava and merges in the Divine Incarnation.

It is worth noting how, to vindicate His devotee's conviction, the Lord cheerfully undergoes the strain of keeping himself in readiness to manifest Himself at any place allover the universe, not knowing where exactly the Danava chooses to challenge His presence. Hiranyakasipu is not aware that Harl has all along lodged Himself within his heart; he has gone in search of Hari and exhausted every nook and corner but has 110t found Him, even because his quest is animated by a vengeful purpose and limited to the world outside him. It has never occurred to him to look within himself to verify whether his enemy is hiding there. But Prahlada's intense faith, which asserts His all-pervasiveness and universal immanence, meets with instantaneous response. It may be noted that none can find out God, however sincere, intensive and prolonged his

Prahlada -

11

search may be; God discloses Himself only to those who trust in Him, out of His love and consideration for them. It is not to demonstrate His existence to Hiranvakasipu that Hari manifests Himself but to prove that His devotee, Prahlada, is right in holding his conviction that Hari exists. Such is His magnanimous gesture to vindicate those who believe in Him. To rid the world of Hiranyakasipu, who represents the evil forces at their most monstrous and wickedest zenith, is the secondary purpose of this Terrible Manifestation. Note that while the world is .cleansed of evil, not an iota of Brahrna's boon to the Danava King is violated in the process of redemption. It is admirable that the Lord does not let down His agents while taking measures to counter the effects of their generous boons to unworthy persons. One last observation before the close .. How elevating to the spirit is the thought that even the grossest sinner need not despair of redemption; the Lord's gracious touch chastens him and makes him worthy of absorption into Himself!

Prahlada is a devotee without an equal; and his life yields salutary lessons to spiritual aspirants.

1. Is it not surprising that Prahlada should hold the place of pride among the devotees of Hari? He is born in a rakshasa race known for its pronounced rajasic qualities of overbearing pride. stubborn wilfulness and tenacious wickedness, He cannot be credited with scholarship of the Sastras (sastra jnana) nor with proficiency in the performance of works (karmanusthana) , But he has in him an abounding, unswerving faith in Hari as the Supreme Lord and abiding unflinching devotion to Him. He owes this spiritual treasure to the initiation he has received, while in his mother's womb, from no less a preceptor than Narada, the divine minstrel. Thus, his faith is inborn; and his. intuitive cultivation of it has developed into love of God and culminated in surrender to Him. Thus, he becomes an adept in

true knowledge without having to undergo any instruction from any quarter.

2. Knowledge without conviction becomes an empty dsolav: performance <;>1 w<;>r!w wi,'wut «;I~vQtiQI1 b~cQm~~ i;! fy,ilfJ

12.

Episodes from Bhagavatam

exercise. Prahlada shows how his spiritual equipment of faith (visvasam) and devotion (bhakti) have enabled him to stand four square against all winds of tyranny, oppression and wickedness in vindicating his clamant declaration of the Lord's immanence and all-pervasiveness, potency and sovereignty. And Hari establishes the truth of His devotee's assertion by manifesting Himself in the column as Narasimha, Man-Lion. The devotee who surrenders and deems himself to be an instrument in His hands entertains no fear, for it is the Lord's look out to save what is His own. Narahari appears frightening to the celestial lords; even Lakshmi, His consort, feels nervous to approach Him; He looks so terrible; but Prahlada moves towards Him without hesitation even because he notices the sootl'ling mellow light beaming on him from the Lord's eye, This prerogative is reserved for Prahlada; he is the foremost child prodigy in devotion.

3. The real trial for Prahlada is not when he faces the tortures and tribulations forced on him by his father. It arises when the Lord graciously asks him to seek any favour; he reacts

to this offer with trepidation; as every pore of his being ...

is saturated with self-donating devotion, he shudders at

the implied temptation, and answers with deep humility

that he will feel blessed if the Lord graciously banishes all

desires from his heart except the one, which he deeply cherishes, of unbroken affinity to Him in love and service.

To desire Him alone (Swam) and none else, is "swartha"

in its perfect form; this is the final step to reach the climax

in the ascent of love. To one who achieves this goal, all

other desires (pararthas) appear tasteless and reprehensi-

ble. Devotion, as it matures, assumes the form of the

mother's intense love and solicitude for the child. The

Protector of the universe appears to need protection; and

the devotee invokes benediction on Him. Prahlada lives,

moves, and hashis being, in .God and justifies hi.s nama as

one who dwells in unalloyed bliss; no trouble, however excruciating, can disturb his equanimity; much less throw

him into .. 910ornor despondency, .

I-2. DHRUvA

The child prodigy among devotees

Uttanapada is ina mood otrelaxatlon. Jie seats his son

Uttama, the child of Suruchi,on 'his lap and fondles him. Just .then, Dhruva, the child of Sun it I, the 'senior queen, arrives and casts eager .leoks at his father, in the expectation that· he will be invited to share the coveted privilege of a similar place and equal treatment. Suruchi is quick to notice Dhruva's

. predicament and cuts in with an unoharitable remark that if he expedtedhis wish tobefulfHled,he should have been 130m her child arrdsret the child of. some one else, and all that he cando now is to take refuge atthe feet of Lord\A.ishAu fansuch §ood'luck. Apart from its crudeness, th+sobslervation of Suruchi 'shows her un fFi asked arrogance thatherchilda,l'one, ana 11'8 ofher prince, has the prerogative of'behl1lg fondled by the Kil1g; SUGh honour is the monopoly of her offspring only. '··llUisa stupid I"ehlark in as muehas no child has on option in its

pare:ril't'8'ge; iDIl111'uv:acannoto!bviouslychnose who should be his ';moine r .iflTi·e f'b i rith .of adrHdispreorda ined. Urta na pa <!La's ,pa.ssiiil:fe la'C'Cq,l5Jieseen1c1e,;in his·,wife';s ;caUous andstllpid insi'rlua- 4i:1::>na~ainst"Dhruvaanppe,ars ,s't'ran'ge and utt.erly unjustifiab:!'.e. '"Evidenlly,he +supset wi~h 'her:unexipecte:dobsefvationand . is unable to act on the splJ'ro'f1!hem0'Fl'lenta.illld openly contradiet

.. herand reprimand her. It is true that he has become over-fond ofSuruohi, his second .flame, and has neglected his first wife, Suniti, who is the very epitome of feminine virtue and sincere fidelity. Butthe fact is that be loves Dhruva, the child of Suniti, .as intensely as he loves Uttama, the son of Suruchi, and is quite upriqht and fair-minded.

He is not under obligation to honour tn.e wish of Suruehi as Dasarathais to give Mtect 'to Kaikeyi's demands 'Dasaratha's case is a'ltogether diffe'rent. Kaikeyi'sg:uHecful -rnanoeuvres, ,by which sheqets re,affirmaIti<Hl,under oath, .ef 'the grant of the two 'boons (to which 'he has committetiihimseU 'anhe time(ff his rescue in the fight with $ambara) '!'»lace 'D~saratha In an awkward sitt:Jation,f,rolllw!h:i:ch 'he -oannet :·yitrt~g'ile durwlthq't.t;t In9vrt'ir1~rhe iflfamy Ofll:n9l<en t~tl. "!H1j}

14

Episodes from Bhagavatam

becomes helpless when his appeals fail to placate her and threats and rebukes prove ineffective to shake her obduracy, He has to yield; his infatuation for Kaikeyi brings, in its train. distress and death. It is, therefore, unfortunate that Uttanapada needlessly shows apathy at the moment; and this hurts the

. little child; he leaves the place crest-fallen; and when alone with his mother breaks out in groans of grief and humiliation. His father's neglect adds insult to injury and the sensitive child is unable to digest the ignominy.

Suniti has fallen from grace. She is not recognised by her husband as his honoured wife; she is not extended even the treatment that a servant receives. The King dotes on the glamorous Suruchi: dalliance with his sweet consort seems to be his sole occupation. No appeal to his good sense can prevail from whichever influential quarter it might come. Suniti is helpless. In her despair, she tells her child that. no purpose

.is served by attempts to turn the King way from his dotage; they will prove futile. She agrees with Suruchi's counsel and tells Dhruva to turnto God and take refuge at His feet; for, such a course alone can be effective. The broken-hearted Dhruva, smarting under hurt pride and lacerating insult, moves into the forest with a fixed resolve to obtain the grace of the Lord and crave for the re-establishment of his legitimate place in the King's heart and his realm.

The divine minstrel, Narada, comes to know of Dhruva's resolve and wonders how a kshatriya child, unable to live down an insult, is prepared to undertake a rigorous penance to find a remedy for it. He intervenes; he tries to give him comfort, saying that honour and dishonour are concepts which should not be allowed to invade childhood and disturb the carefree life of sport and pastime and amusement. He counsels the tiny tot not to venture on the rigorous penance; for even the wisest sages consider that pleasure and pain are inescapable consequences of past Karma and are ordained by Providence; and that they are, therefore, to be accepted with equanimity. He impresses on the child that happiness lies in appreciating men of . outstanding ·up.rightl"less and virtues and in extenq.ing

. ,f.rien(Hi'rles~ to equals ~nd c9nsic;l~n:ltiQ!1 t9 those whQlaps~

bhruva

into vice. Dhruva confesses that, as a Kshatriya child whose heart is scalded with humiliation, he is unable to maintain peace of mind; yet as his spirit is oriented towards God, he piteously appeals to Narada to instruct him on the course he has to adopt to realise hls ambition. Narada touches his head with his sanctifying palm; he is pleased with the child's strong determination to pursue the spiritual course; and knowing that Vishnu's prompting is its cause, he explains in detail the manner in which he has to undertake the penance with his mind steadily fixed on the Lord. Dhruva moves to Madhuvana and carries out this pious exercise punctil iously.

Narad~h~st~hs to Uttanapada's place and finds the King sunk in great depression and acute agony. The departure of Dhruva has awakened remorse in the King who blames himself for his cruel apathy towards his son and stupid infatuation for Suruchi. He confesses his guilt and expresses his concern for the little child's plight in the wild woods. Narada takes pity on the King and comforts him by observing that he does not know how great a devotee of Hari Dhruva is and how by his piety he is going to acquire a lasting position, which is inaccessible' to the kings of any realms. He assures Uttanapada that his son, who will enhance his glory and make it lasting for all time, will return soon to his side to his immense joy.

Dhruva conforms to all the regulations of the spiritual exercise; gradually disciplines the body with spare diet and subsists on mere water and finally on sheer air; and he strengthens the will by concentrating on the form and attributes of Hari and shutting out all aberrations from mind. The frightened celestials, the rulers of the universe, approach the Lord and seek r!3fuge at His footstool. The Lord graciously proffers protection and undertakes to pacify the little child whose penance has caused all this cataclysm. Hari, on whose form Dhruva has been focussing attention in his inmost heart, suddenly disappears and manifests Himself before his physical eye in all His glory. Dhruva drinks in this enchanting beauty with his greedy eyes and wishes to praise Him. But words fail him. Noticing his eager intention, the Lord touches his cheeks with His conch which booms with Vedic Sabda. A

Ep isodes from B hag avatarrr

paeon'of praise instantaneously emerges from the: devotee; he glorifies the form and features and the attributes and powers of the Lord; and. he expatiates upon the ineffable bliss that Haws ·from his wcrshtp and service. Pleased with the child's

devotion, the' Lord vouchsafeshiswish - namely, enjo.yment of .'-

peace and plenty during a prolonged rule over his father's

domain; and when his lif'e- comes to an end, Hari confers on

him an imperishable place, in the firmament of planets and stars,

thus giving hi m redemptlon.from the cycle of birth-and-death:

Dhruva has gained, in a siAg le, birth, the darsan of the Lord which devotees take numerous births, to .. attain; but he is not quite pleased with the affluence he has achieved. He regrets that, as his mind is rankling with revenge for the gratuitous insult his step-mother has hurled' on him, he has failed to secure the sina qua non of all devotees - admission into Vaikuntha and a place among His servitors. Narada is right when he has warned him not to warp his mind with hatred; but he has failed to take note of his caution with the result that he has stupidly constricted a great opportunity to the fulfilment of mere worldly ends. The realisation comes too late; no purpose

is served by crying over spilt milk. ...

Dhruva returns to the kingdom where' a warm, enthusiastic welcome awaits him. The King is overjoyed to hear the news of his son's return; it is like a dead son coming back to life. He sets out with all his courtiers and retinue, with his wives and their attendants; he warmly clasps his son to his bosom with tears of joy streaming down his cheeks; Suniti's maternal love and solicitude find expression in an ecstatic embrace and boundless happiness. Suruchi is now a changed woman; there is no trace of the old malice or contempt; with a charming smile, she honours Dhruva with a hearty hug; Uttama is beside himself with exemplary fraternal affection and clings to his brother with reverential affinity. The people line the streets, sprinkle flowers on him a nd shower benedictions on their heloved and pious prince. His advent receives universal acclaim. Uttanapada decides to instal Dhruva on the throne and retire into the forest to devote himself to spiritual exercises in the last phase of his life. Dhruva establishas a reputation

Dhruva

17

for righteous conduct and benevolent administration. He marries Bhrami and 11a and has two sons by the former and a son and a daughter by the latter. His brother Uttame remains unmarried. During a hunting expedition, he dies in confrontation with a Yaksha: Stricken with grief for her son, Suruchi repairs to the forest for peace. While there, she falls a victim to a raging forest fire. Dhruva becomes indignant with Yakshas and sets out with his armies on purpose to avenge his brother's death. Proceeding north, he comes across Alakapura and blows his conch challenging the Yakshas to battle. In the fierce fight that ensues, Dhruva routs enemy hordes, killing some and wounding many. Savage retaliation follows: large contingents of Yakshas dispose themselves over the sky in groups, and rain arrows, spears, clubs and missiles, making Dhruva their single target. Stricken to the quick, the King musters courage and displays his prowess and skills in wielding the bow and discharges arrows in all directions with the speed of a whirlwind. Thus thwarted, the dispersed Yaksha hosts adopt tricky tactics, raise a smoke-screen, and hiding behind illusory clouds, hurl maces, swords, discs, spears and tridents, interspersed with stinking flesh, blood and filth. It looks as though the earth has thrown up tuskers, lions, tigers and other wild animals to roam about and do as much havoc as they can. Sages and saints resent this mischievous strategy and hasten to Dhruva and counsel him to invoke the aid of Vishnu, the Protector of the Universe, who alone can ward off the disaster perpetrated by the Yakshas. Thus warned, Dhruva thinks of the Lord, reverently bows to Him, and intoning the incantation, fits the Narayanastra to his bow and releases it with all his might. The potent shaft blazes with dazzling brilliance, proceeds with the speed of wind chasing the clouds of darkness, releases innumerable flashing weapons in its unerring course and spreads havoc in the field of battle which is strewn

., all over with innumerable dead and wounded.

The ghastly devastation disturbs the tranquillity of Dhruva's grandfather, Swayambhuvu Manu. He arrives on the scene with a host of sages and gently reprimands Dhruva. He points out that it is highly improper for a devotee of Hari to

3)

1S

Episodes from Bhagavatani

give quarter to vengeful ire; and execute a wholesale massacre of innocent people to avenge the murder of a brother; and that the course adopted is totally wrong and unjustifiable. He makes an elaborate exposition of the nature and workings of Providence; of creation, sustenance and dissolution of the Universe; and of the transcendental and trnmanental aspects of the Supreme. He expounds how sages and saints, how even Brahma and Rudra, are incapable of unraveling the mystery of His designs and purposes; and how all the happenings in the world are controlled and brought about by His potent Will. He avers that it is therefore irrational to blame the Yaksha race for the death of l)ttama. He exhorts Dhruva to give up anger, which isth~ bane of disciplined life and cause of destruction of everything good. He counsels him to crave for the pardon of Kubera, the brother of Sadasiva and lord of the Yakshas, for the offence he has done him. Dhruva realises his guilt; he gives up anger and enmity. Kubera appears before him and Dhruva makes ample amends for his rash assault. But the Lord of the Yakshas assuages him by observing thai Kala is responsible for Uttarna's death (and not any Yaksha) and for the devastation of Yakshas (and not Dhruva). He advises him to turn his mind to the worship of the Supreme Lord, as that alone can free him from ignorance; and offers to confer upon him any boon that he may choose. Dhruva, whose vision now gets clear of the scales of avidya, is prompted to seek this single favour that his mind should be strengthened to contemplate, without a moment's lapse, on Hari and Hari alone. Kubera gladly grants his prayer.

Dhruva returns to his kingdom. With his heart firmly set on Hari, he discharges his duties with great benevolence, treating the subjects as his own children. He undertakes various sacrificial rites and propitiates the celestiais and wins their favours for the good of his people and realm and thus eliminates the pile of sins he has committed till then. He drinks the cup of wholesome pleasures to the dregs during the long years of his reign, thus wiping out the merit accumulated till that time. He becomes liberated from the coils of samsara, relinquishes the throne and the affluence and the power associated with it, and retires to Badarikavana where heleads an abstemious life with his whole inner being set on the contemplation of the'

Dhruva

19

Supreme Lord. Peace eternal and bliss ineffable descend upon him and envelope him on all sides. Sunanda and Nanda, messengers of Lord Hari, arrive; they are commissioned to fetch Dhruva ' (who, as a child of five years, won His grace by his devotion) to Vaikuntha, a place inaccessible except to those saints and sages and devotees on whom the Lord smiles. They tell Ohruva that he is privileged to join the 'elect' and has earned the fitness to mount the divine chariot they have brought for his transport. Dhruva feels the thrill of this invitation; at the same time, he suffers a shiver in the spine as to how he can leave behind his forlorn mother. The next moment, the cloud of melancholy dissipates as he notices his mother taken ahead of him in a separate celestial chariot. Dhruva is now at peace with himself; he bows to the sages who surround him, circumambulates the Vimana with all reverence and salutes the messengers before mounting the resplendent vehicle. He reaches the Vishnupada, the home of bliss for the ardent devotees, the realm which, by its own inherent effulgence, illumines the other worlds; and around which revolves. with amazing speed, the wheel of planets and stars of varying sizes and brightness. From his station therein Dhruva, the crowngem among devotees, radiates light and cheer over the three worlds. Narada sings the glory of Dhruva, who has, under his inspiration, captivated Hari even in his childhood by his intense penance and devotional ardour and earned a perennial place of distinction in the starry firmament.

The similarity and the difference in the cases of the two child prodigies of devotees of Hari - Prahlada and Dhruvamake an interesting studv. In both cases, Narada figures as deus ex machina - a providential interposition - to effect a salutary diversion from the course events are heading for. Indra takes Leelavati captive with the intention of putting an end to the baby she is expecting, for fear that he may prove a .qreater menace to the celestials than Hiranyakasipu. Narada intervenes and assures him that her womb carries a great devotee of Hari and that lndra cannot, even if he wants to, eliminate that child. He releases Leelavati from Indra. offers her shelter in his hermitage and utilises the opportunity to instil into the \Jnborru~hildf a spirit of ~oQlin~$~ qnt;l loyglty to Harl, Thl,ls(

20

Episodes from Bhagavatam

Prahlada emerges as a staunch devotee from birth, every pore of his being imbued with firm faith in the Lord. Torture makes no impact on him though he is hardly five summers old; rather, every torment strengthens his conviction that the Lord is allpervasive, that He is immanent in every object of creation, and that nothing exists outside the gamut of his embrace and that He is unequalled and Supreme beyond doubt or question. The Lord vindicates Prahlada's faith when Hiranyakasipu challenges it and asks for proof. Prahlada thus rises in stature as a devotee without equal; in fact, he gains precedence over Narada, his preceptor and inspirer. He holds the pride of place among the bhaktas for all time: Prahlada and then Narada and others, even because his devotion is inborn and is without motivation and without expectation of reward.

Dhruva leaves his father's place, at the age of five, smarting under his step-mother's gratuitous insult and father's callous neglect. He wishes to regain his rightful place in his father's affection and wreak vengeance upon his step-mother. To this end, he plans to do rtgorous penance to obtain Hari's favour. Narada intervenes; he encourages him in his laudable exercise to please the Lord and suggests a course of discipline; at the same time, he warns him against harbouring lll-wil] or resentment about any person. While Dhruva succeeds in earning his worldly reward, he fails to dislodge hatred from his heart and consequently loses the chance ef admission into Vaikuntha. Though he has had the Lord's darsan, he has failed to restrain himself from the course of revenge against the Yakshas. Onthe plea that one of them has killed his brother, he has indulged in a wholesale massacre of the enemies and vast devastation of their kingdom. It is only after the exhortation of his grandfather Swvarnbhuvu, that he realises his folly, makes amends and turns a new leaf in his life. In Dhruva, we have the example of a gunuine devotee whose lapses of hurt pride and vengeful ire undermine, time and again, the ultimate goel of spiritual sadhana, the release from the cycle of birthand-death and the attainment of Paramapada. It is only after he overcomes these weaknesses that he earns the coveted reward of an everlasting place in the starry heavens. To ~,QJl~I1,lglil i Prahlacfa i~ born vyilh the halo of an accomptjshe q

Ambari:sha

21

devotee; and establishes, through suffering and fortitude, the Lord's existence and supremacy; Dhruva, a child prodigy, grows and blossoms into a charming devotee through spiritual discipline and rigorous penance; and proclaims the glory of God's graciousness and benevolence.

I - 3. AMBARISHA

An Epitome of equanimity in peril

Rulers, in general, are dominated by ambition. They reveal a tendency to extend their dominions, to acquire wealth, to exercise power, to establish reputation. There is no end to this desire: the more they have, the more they aspire for. This ceaseless quest for worldly possessions saps their energies and leaves them restless. But there are a few Kings who feel content with whatever affluence they have and make profitable use of their talents and resources for the good of their country andwelfare of their people. They lead simple, disciplined lives, assimilate the hoary wisdom and culture handed down from times immemorial, and discharge their duties with earnestness and zeal. Without ignoring or neglecting their obligations to protect their realms and their subjects, they find time to cultivate the virtues of truth and justice; equanimity and amiability, considerateness and generosity, honesty and uprightness, faith in God and love for living creatures. Their strength and prowess in martial arts keep their enemies at bay; their outstanding virtues and sterling character make their people happy; their

.. -t strong faith in God and ardent devotion to Him bring them peace and enlightenment. They are the Rajarshis; their high stature, 'bothin war and peace, wins for them universal acclaim and respect.

Ambarisha may be reckoned as one of the elect few. He nc;Hqs &way ever tl vast ihherited.· kin~don'l extendin~ Qve:r th~

22

Episodes from Bhagavatam

Saptadweepas; he is in command of magnificent affluence. He does not yield to the temptation of extending his realm and increasing his wealth. He is an epitome of all virtues; his mind is oriented towards Lord Vishnu; and he rejoices in devoting his time to His service. He loves to contemplate on His feet; he delights in singing His praises; he rejoices in hearing the stories of Lord's exploits and sportive deeds; he exults in fixing his looks on His glorious form and lovely features and in inhaling the fragrance of his flower-garlands; he revels in the exalting and illuminating company of the Lord's devotees. Ambarisha performs numerous horse-sacrifices on the banks of the river Saraswati under the guidance of Vasishtha and other great sages and makes liberal gifts to the deserving on a vast scale. After this purificatory exercise, the King, while attending to his royal obligations as usual, gets fully engrossed in the conternplatlon of the Deity, consecrates every action of his at the Lord's footstool, and spends time profitably in the company of godly men.

In course of time, Ambarisha develops detachment from worldly possessions, keeps aloof from grand mansions and pleasant groves, isolates himself from kith and kin, retires with his wife to the lovely Madhuvana on the banks of Yamuna and undertakes to observe a vrota (a ritual exercise) in the month of Kartik. Fixing his mind steadily on Hari, he resolutely resists temptation to stray away and completes the Vrata with a three,.. day fasting followed by abhisheka and arch ana (immersion and worship) of the Deity and distribution of largesses of milchcows and their offspring. decked in gold ornaments, among the Vedic scholars on a large scale.

The King makes elaborate arrangements to feed the Brahmins on Dwadasi day as that marks the grand finale of the sacred vrata. Just then Durvasa, a great sage of profound Vedic scholarship and intense Yogic experienceand penance, arrives at the venue. The King welcomes him in all reverence, extends to him all the courtesies due to an honoured guest, and requests him with folded hands to partake of the feast he has arranged for that particular occasion. ' The sage accepts his invitation and proceeds to the riv",r tcrhave a I;>ath<mc;f. make

A,mbarisha

the usual oblations. He is unmindful of the passage of time as he gets engrossed in the performance of his rites. For its fulfilment, the King's vrata requires that he should break the fast before Dwadasi tithi passes; and there is no sign of the guest returning in time from the river. The King is on the horns of a dilemma; if he conforms to the prescriptions governing the vrata, he will be dishonouring the guest by eating before him. If he does not, he will be forfeiting the fruits of the whole ritual exercise. He seeks advice from the learned men gathered there as to how he should conduct himself without committing a breach in the Code. They suggest a course by which he can fulfil his dual obligations and avoid any lapse; he may sip, before the tithi passes, tulasi teertha, water sanctified with leaves of sacred basil soaked in it. The King does accordingly but not before supplicating the Lord's grace for what he is compelled to do in that situation.

Durvasa returns and the King pays him reverent attention as he extends his hospitality. But the irascible sage divines how the King has committed a breach in the Code. Rage overpowers him; hunger shakes his frame; his face turns crimson. He openly denounces the King as an arrogant self-conceited person, who has deliberately offended an invited guest by not waiting for hi!jl1 to join his company at food. The sage loses the power to think; he does not care to know what explanation the King has to offer; he wishes to exhibit what power he has to punish this pseudo-devotee of Hari, He works himself into passion, his eyes rain sparks of fire, his teeth gnash with a chattering sound; he plucks a lock of hair from its root and with a frightening shriek strikes it against the ground. A monstrous form rises from it and armed with a flaming spear marches menacingly towards the King, who stands unruffled with his mind fixed on Hari. The King has acquired, by his own penance, Yogic powers which are not unequal to those of Durvasa. But he does not exercise them to counter the menace of the monster before him. He does not think Of retaliation; he does not even attempt to protect himself. He has made a total surrender to God and he is now in His keeping. It is for the Lord to decide what course)o adopt to

~pisodes from BhagaV"ata~

avertthe crisis. The ever-present and all- knowing God cornmisslons Sudarsana, His Disc, to tackle the hallyboo created by the thoughtless sage. In a trice, the Disc arrives with its rim blazing like the devastating Fire (let loose at the time of dissolution of the universe, praJayagni) and consumes the monster created by o urvasa, Not content with it, the Disc pursues Durvasa with determination to teach him a lesson. The sage rushes into the bowels of the earth but the Disc is there after him; he plunges into the depths of the sea, only to find the Disc in hot chase, No place in the sky gives him shelter. In his despair, he seeks the help of Brahma to save him from the Disc; but Brahma tells him that he and Siva, the Prajapathis and the celestials, all alike, respect Had's commands as serving the interests .of the universe; and none of them has the power nor the will to oppose His weapon. Durvasa hastens to Kailasa and invokes Mahadeva's intercession. Siva declares helplessness to resist the weapon of Hari, whose mysterious powers of creation, sustenance and absorption, whose very nature and attributes and sportive deeds, are beyond the comprehension or imagination of the celestial potentates, Rishies, Yogis and other

worthies who are held in respect by the worlds. He counsels.' him that the oniy course of redemption from the menace lies in

seeking refuge at the feet of Hari.

Durvasa now comes to his senses and realises the enormity of the crime he has committed, in a moment of irnplusive obsession with his own importance, against a sincere and ardent devotee of Vishnu. He reaches Vikuntha, falls prostrate before the Lord in humble penitence, makes a clean breast of his great offence and craves for pardon. Had tells him, by way of gentle reprimand, how closely He is allied to His devotees and how, in return for their devotion to Him, He follows them in the same way as the calf goes after the cow; and how He has not the heart to desert those who have given up wife and children, kith and kin, worldly possessions, affluence and power, pleasures and pastimes, and deemed Him, and none else, as their sole Refuge and put their strong faith in Him for succour and protection. As such close affinity, and even identity, exists between the Deity and the Devotee, Hari

Ambarisha

directs Durvasa to approach King Ambarisha, whom he has wronged, and make amends for his unbecoming outrage against him.

Durvasa is a great sage who has acquired by his prolonged and arduous penance enormous powers with which he can, at will, dispense good or work ruin. Unfortunately for him, he has failed to establish control over his mind and check its aberrations. Filled with an overweening consciousness of his own importance, and hyper-sensitive quickness to take offence, he deems even innocent actions of others as deliberate insults and pours forth his wrath with instert impetuosity and a reckless indifference, and with Q callous refusal to hear the other man's explanation or defence. It is this flaw of haste and lack of self-control, which costs, him dearly; it ruins his spiritual affluence and ultimately flings him into despicable humiliation.

The sage returns crest-fallen to the earth, humbles himself before the Kir.q, clasps his feet and seeks pardon. He is shorn of his glow; he is fatigued in body; he is cowed down by the fear of the chasing Disc and gasps for breath. There is no change in the King. Ambarisha remains his normal self, amiable and courteous, kind and consi derate, devout and magnanimous. He feels embarrassed; his heart melts with pity, when he sees the great sage prostrate at his feet. He turns to Sudarsana, folds his hands in reverence, extols his multi-sided magnificence in various. manifestations (as Sun, Moon, Fire, Air, Earth, Firmament and as Compound of all elements or as their Source, as Time, as Universe, as Brahma, as Truth, as Sacrifice and its result, as the Eternal illuminating Cause and so on) and implores the indescribable and irresistible Weapon, the most efficacious in Hart's armoury, to relent and show mercy to the penitent Brahmin. Ambarisha declares that his appeal may be viewed with favour if, and only if, he has, through life. shown strict adherence to Dharma (righteousness), unmitiqated commitment to render full satisfaction to seekers of gifts and unfailing attitude of reverence to Brahmins as godly men. Sudarsana honours the devotee's appeal, stops pestering Durvasa and withdraws from the scene.

4)

26

Episodes from Bhagavatam

Durvasa now feels safe and secure. He praises the King for his friendliness and generosity, qualities which come natu-' rally to devotees of Hari. It is no surprise, he observes, that those w:hO cling:to· His feetwithfaitp and reverenceqet purified andc()ns~quently acquire power to enjoy bliss and impart it to. others. Ambarisha prostrates before the sage and tells him that he .will feel honoured and blessed, if he accepts his hospitality. Durvasa is happy to respond to his wish. He tells the King how pleased heis with him; and how his looks, his words, his hospitality, his demeanour have all a halo of sanctltv about them and fill the onlooker with great happiness; The sage takes leave of the King and prophesies that his glory lasts forever and his life becomes a source of inspiration to celestials, sages and spiritual aspirants and a model for their emulation and adoption.

Ambarisha and Janaka are renowned as Rishis among Kings, Rajarshis: As rulers, they are feared and honoured even because they discharge their obligations with quiet efficiency and palpable fair-mindedness. But the main source of their strength lies in their absolute faith in the Lord and total surrender to H is will.

~16~S@,jo6d'l:lo~ ~o o1e30J"8 ~6J&~.~ej t§~o ~O""S~~~i'J"O 63J.K"i 'SJo ;;$~~S~£'

The Lord has to keep His promise to devotees, who constantly think of Him and worship Him and depend upon Him alone. He is under obI igation to protect the ir interests, to provide them with what they need and to keep safe what they have. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Heaven of peace and bliss!

Rantideva·

1·4. RANTIDEVA

Exemplar of Self-abnegation

According to their impulses, attitudes and thouqht-processes, people are categorised into three grades. Self - aggrandisement is the only concern of most people, through out their lives. They care not to what trouble and misery they expose others in their mad selfish pursuits. They belong to the "lowest" category (~~:5:J) and are positively wicked. There are others who wish to fead happy lives without causing harm to others; their policy is "to live and let others live". They come under the classification "moderate" (;,5:~£:5:J). They areprudent, neither good nor bad; their self-interest does not impinge upon, nor adversely affect, the livesof others. Then there a re a fewwho can be called the "noblest" among people (p,~ ::'me.l:l). They do not I ive for themselves; their lives are attuned to high ideals and noble ends; they are ever ready to face trials and tribulations and willingly sacrifice their all - even their lives -to relieve others of their miseries and make them happy. Rantideva exemplifies this noble trait in all its glory.

Charitv is reckoned as a cardinal virtue. It is the outward expression of a genuine fellow-feeling, which is generated in a sensitive heart by the sight of an object in sad plight. To one who has a strong belief in a loving God and who takes delight in the company .of pious devotees, consideration tor people grovelling in misery becomes an innate natural urge. Such a person exercises this faculty in as unobtrusive a manner as possible. He is devoid of all sense of vanity; he dislikes being seen while in the act of rendering help to others; he does. not wish that the left hand knows what the right hand does. Such is his intense desire for secrecy and disinclination to publicity. He needs no recognition for his good deed; much less does he aspire for any return or reward. Usually, the person who exercises this generosity prescribes certain limits for its operation; he does not mind being liberal when the urge does not impinge on his own needs. Prudence dictates that he should not allow this impulse, however healthy .and wholesome it may per to overridethe minimum requtramentstoracaretree Hf~ tor

27

Episodes from Bhagavatam

himself and his family, But to devote himsel_f entirely to satis-

f· the insistent entreaties of fellow-bemgs, even to the

ymg· . d .

complete erosion of his own imperatl~e. nee s. ~ ~erson req.u~res

a rare strength of mind and a magr:llflce.nt SPirit of sacr~flce. King Rantldeva is an exemplar of such uruque self-abneqation.

King Rantideva makes up his mind to lead the life of an anchorite. H~ distributes his possessions among the poor and the needy and retires with his family to theforest. He takes a vow ef abstinence and wiilinglyembraces poverty. He resolves to.tVi:) up. food and drink; he wishes to fast for forty eight days and &l'Igage himself in meditation and prayer. He completes thlssp,iritualexercise 'and feels physically exhausted. He plans tob'l'sak the fs"St'with a porridge made of milk, rice and ghee and with clean andeool water. Ashe is about to take food, a Brahmin arrives, tells him how hungry he is and asks for sUiilte,rnance.Rantideva welcomes him as an honoured guest and offers him hospitality. A half of the porridge is served to the Brahmin; and he leaves fully gratified. Just then, a Sudra appe.ars and implores the King to appease his hunger. Rantideva is disinclined to negative his request. He gives him a part of the remaining porridge with him; and the guest takes his leave with his heart full of gratitude. Even as the King prepares to take his meal, a hunter makes his appearance with his hunting dogs and piteously craves for food. No shade of annoyance disturbs the King's affability. The sight of the famished' hunter and his exhausted dogs strikes the springs 'of mercy. He gives away the remnants of the food to rescue them from their misery. The tsst for the King's'altruismis'notyetover. Not a minute Iapees before an outcast oflowbirth, a Chandala, comes upon the scene, 'bows to the Kinginaflhumility, craves for pity and pleads that un!lesstfule King 'gives him whatever feed he has with him, he will die of extreme thirst. This pathetic appeal melts Rantldeva's heart. He invites him to draw closer, declares with regret that he has no food to give; he has only a few drops of refreshing waterandhe will be glad to part with them in the hOlps thatthey will quench his thirst and save his life He condd~rs tha,t no deed is more meaningful and gratifying than that whIch relieves a living creature of imminent peril and make him happy. TheKitl~'is inthe'~~me'~ritical predh~am~nt; he i~ 90

. , .

'Rantideva

the verge of death; and he is not in the least worried about himself. He is happy that it is given to him to save so many of hisfellow-ereatures from danger. He declares his conviction that God is his refuge; he has entrusted himself to His keeping and it is for the Lord to dispose him as He pleases. So saying, Rantideva pours the life-giving water into the Chanda la's vessel.

Rantideva's firm faith in Hari, his belief in the equality of all living creatures as manifestations of the same Lord, his conviction that happiness lies in selfless service and sacrifice, and his magnificent spirit of total submission and surrender to the Lord, win the admiration of Brahma and the celestials. They present themselves before the King, tell. him how they have manipulated the events to test his courage and steadfastness in holding to his convictions, and how they appreciate his success in the ordeal. He is free to ask for any favour and they will be pleased to grant it. Rantideva, whose very being is filled to the brim with devotion to Narayana, knows not what to ask for; he salutes them with all reverence and keeps mum. Rantideva earns his release from the cycle of birth-and-death and finds a place among the servitors inParamapeda.

This episode of Rantideva from Srimad Bhagavatam imparts a wholesome lesson about the value of total selfabnegation and absolute altruism. In all these successive acts of benevolence, there is no speck of vanity, no trace of patronage, nothing like the declaration of self-denial : "Thy need is -greater than mine", Tyaga, as evidenced-in this King, is possible only to an enlightened spiritual aspirant, who has, by arduous penance, fasting, meditation and prayer, reached the pinnacle of devotion. In thts vexalteonesltion.rhe n6tices the unity of life and kinship among all 'cre-ated beings.T'he artificial distinctions of social organisation disappear, when the same crisis of 'death by starvation challenges the Brahmin, the ';Sud~a, 'the tribal hunter and the ,Chandala;a,nd Hantldeva

regards each one of them as an equal manifestation of 'the SUpreme Lord and honours all-ef them as his guests. "Atith! devo bhava" is the regnant principle that governs his-eonduct, J-l irnse If on ,the ver~eQfcQHa'psE;l oVV'ir'~r ito)prolon~etl ) fastiA~{

29

It may be interesting iii this context to recall to mind the story of Emperor Sibi. While he relaxes on the terrace of his mansion, a dove, shaken with fright and exhausted with long flight, drops into his lap and seeks his protection. Sibi is moved with pity, strokes the bird with fondness and assures it of safety from any peril. Even as he gives his guarantee, a hawk in hot pursuit of its game arrives and demands that the dove be set free. The King pleads his inability to release the dove, to which he has given refuge, and expose it to danger. The hungry hawk questions his right to deprive it of its food. The King sees the justification of the hawk's claim and, at the same time, admits that he cannot violate the promise of safety given to the dove. So he is prepared to satisfy the just claim of the hawk by offering to it his own flesh, equivalent in weight to the dove's body. The bargain is struck; and the hawk is pleased with this exceptional chance of getting an equivalent weight of human flesh for its feed.

Sibi orders balance and weights, places the dove in one

pan, cuts his flesh and puts it in the other pan but finds it to

be lighter than the bird. He removes some more flesh from his

body; even that, is not enough to balance the dove's weight.

He repeats the process again and again and still he notices that

his flesh falls deficient in weight. He wonders at this mystery,

but still persists in making the sacrifice so long as his life lasts.

Such is his tenacity in keeping his promise that he cares not

how the sacrifice involved ends. Then the birds assume their celestial forms: the dove is Agni and the hawk, Indra. They are pleased with his sense of fairness to the hawk and commitment.

-of protection to the dove. Sibi has stood their test; they make his body whole and crown him with lasting reputation ... Sibi sets a great value on fulfilment of a promise even when it is made to a bird, a dove; ha perceives the unity of life in all ~reatur~~ and deems ~lIlife as-precious ~s his own lif~.

30

Episodes from Bhagavatam

Rantidevais prepared to face death cheerfully in his attempt to save his fellow-beings from a similar plight. Rantideva is a brilliant star of the first magnitude, beckoning people to a life of unsullied tyaga, renunciation. which alone leads to a lasting peace and ineffable bliss.

Sibi makes the sacrifice of his own flesh to" redeem his pledge to the dove. Rantidevahas no such obligation to discharge; he is nobler in as much as he gets ready to risk his lite! because of· his rigorous adherence to the cherished principle of total. renunciation of self in the service. of other living creatures. Rantidevaand Sibi alike cherish the principle of unity of life, uphold the values of commitment to truth and of preparedness to make any sacrifice, even of life, in the fulfilment of obligations. They shine as exemplars of selfabnegation and of exalted ethical conduct for people to admire and emulate.

1-5. AJAMILA

Discoverer of the efficacy of God's name, Narayana

. The story of Ajamila, as recounted in Srimad Bhagavata, is replete with wholesome lessons to spiritual aspirants as well as to people who are content with worldly life. It is an interesting study of a virtuous man who, caught in the tentacles of sensual appetites, is saved from perdition by the repetition of the name of his son "Narayana" during the last moments of his life. Repentance for past sensuality recovers and rehabilitates him into saintly life. The mention of God's name, though casual and unintentional, has an efficacy all its own; it can turn the tide of events and effect a transformation in the person concerned in a surprising manner, which is beyond the power of imagination. Ajamila is an unconscious discoverer of

• the potency of the recital of God's name and is one of its fore-

.... ' most beneficiaries.

Now to the story. Ajamila was born in a pious Brahmin family. He acquired proficiency in Vedic studies and cultivated the virtues of patience, perseverance and self-restraint. His conduct as a student was marked by strict adherence to truth, '

Episodes from Bh,

by humble reverence to preceptors, by impartial. tree all living beings recognising their parity, by avoidance greed, envy and arrogance. As adolescence approac there was a change in his physical features and mel tudes. His looks brightened; gentle smiles played lips; his head was covered with luxuriant locks of hair; of passion thrilled his body; his limbs hardened with muscles and his chest gained in prominence. To indi he was at the threshold of youth, a delicate line of I adorned his upper lip, like the bee-line on the 10tL Spring arrived as though on purpose to create a props for the youth to fall in love. The trees were clad in ar garb of slender shoots, tender leaves and fragrant I flowers; the outer space was strewn with a thick coat snatched by the blowing Wind from the clusters of ble the trees; all the quarters reverberated with the deep music set up by innumerable bees intoxicated with tl they sucked up from flowers; parrots, blackbirds and 0 risters, having drunk, to satiety, the sweet juice of fru flavour, filled the air with their frantic display of disc, disputation. Vasanta was the precursor who pre] ground for his bosom friend Manmatha, to begin his excite passion with his flaming flowery shafts, rele unremitting fervour from his sweet mighty sugar-cane

Ajamila went into the forest at the bidding of hi fetch Kusa grass, dried twigs, flowers and fruits worship. On his way back home, he happened tc beautiful bella, an outcaste harlot, well-versed in 1 love, passionately engaged in sport with her parar bower of creepers. Young Ajamila appeared as one to the spot. He forgot the duty he owed to his father ing him with the things he needed for daily worship.

a keen interest in the pastime in which the 10' engaged; particularly, the seductive exposures an blandishments of the whore went to his head and mad. He was not at all mindful of his obligations to p was oblivious of the wrong he was perpetrating a young, handsome and devoted wife. The sight of 1 volatile woman brought about instantaneous metarnor

Ajamila

turned the pious disciplined Brahmin into a reckless intemperata sensualist. Such was the impact of Cupid's sharp arrows on his mind that Ajamila considered that that woman's company alone would transport him to the seventh heaven of happiness; and if that was denied to him, he could not live for a moment. He bade good-bye to Vedic lore; he found no use for the traditional occupations held sacred by his community. He recked not tha reprimands of close kith and kin; betrayal of his wife's trust did not smite his heart. He chose to live with that amorous woman; he flung morality to winds; adopted any means, wicked and reprehensible, to earn a living and to support her. For years he led a dissolute life. He plundered travellers, indulged in fraudulent gambling and shirked not from any vice to amass a fortune - only to make the harlot-turned-wife, happy and cheerful. He had ten sons by her; he was fond of the last one, whom he named 'Narayana'. The boy's amiable presence, his sweet prattle, his entertaining pranks, have accentuated his father's attachment to him. Ajamila grew old without being conscious of the passage of time. His hair turned grey; his head became shaky; his eyes lost their lustre and his limbs their suppleness; his mind began to wandel'; and he turned eighty-eighth birthday. He was not aware that he was approaching the end. But his pre-occupation with his youngest son and his eagerness to have him beside him, prompted him to call him by his name 'Narayana' repeatedly. When Death knocked at his gate, he saw three fierce-looking, strong-limbed messengers, armed with weapons, ready to catch him in the noose and fasten him with their cords. Ajamila was aghast: his mind was shattered; he became petrified with fright; in his agony, he repeated the name of his son, 'Narayana', the object of his dotage during his closing years. But a stranqe thing happened. The servants of Vishnu, hearing his cry, arrived to give him protection. Ajamila was not thinking of God at all; he did not intend to seek His protection, either. It was an odd coincidence that his son's name happened to be one of the countless names of the Nameless One. The mere mention of God's name, however casual and unintentional, at the time of death, had such efficacy as to summon immediate divine intervention. Lord Vishnu's servants challenged Yarna's

5)

Episodes from BhagavataWi

. angers to keep off Ajamila as he came under the sheltering

mess "H" h""

wing of Vishnu, by invoking IS name t nee iii his last

moments.

Yama's messengers protested that, if their verdict should prevail, their master's writ would" not hold good any longer; and that he would become a laughing-stock for powerlessnessall because of their needless, improper interference in the reQu{ar discharge of his duties. Moreover, Ajamila rightly deseN8d hell for all his sins of commission and omission. A wilful renegade from a pious family, a deliberate defector from traditional morality, a heartless betrayer of parents and wife, a thief and a plunderer, a guileful gambler, a willing slave to unethical passion and a wicked murderer - who else deserved hell if not Ajamila? The case was ably presented, justifying Yarns's verdict. It now remained with Vishnu's servants to advance cogent reasons for their intervention. Their argument ran thus: "If parents, known for their amiability and considerateness, fair-mindedness and sense of equality, should themselves turn against their erring children, whom should the latter look up to for protection and guidance? Whatever the man who knows declares to be the truth becomes a law unto the world; whatever he does becomes an example for others to follow. Could any honest gentleman betray the trust reposed in him by a friend and expose him to ruin in a cruel manner? How could the gracious Lord, a Fountain of Mercy, ignore the call for help from a devotee who surrendered himself, heart and soul. to Him? This Ajamila has, by his recital of the Lord's namel~n his last moments, earned liberation from sins accumulated dUring myriads of earlier births. The efficacy of the glorification of the Lord's name could never be estimated: it is the wild-fire destroying forests of crimes like murdering a Brahmin; it is the peacock putting an end to the serpent of sins like sharing bed with preceptor's wife; it is the sun chasing the gloom of lapses like thieving and gambling; it is the lion threatening the elephant of evil habits of drunkenness and dissipation; Harinamakirtana is the means to enter the realm of eternal ineffable bliss - the land which lies inaccessible even to celestial lords and adepts in Yogic practices. To raise the voice to sing perennial paeons of praise to the Lord is to get

Ajamila

35

installed on the throne of salvation-a reward usually resente-d for aeons of ardent penance and performance of meritorious deeds-and to find admission into the land of truth from which all care and grief are banished. The mere mention of His name is enough to cleanse the person, even if it be done casually and unintentionally." Thus the question that Ajamila was merely calling out his SOn in agony would appear to be Trrelevant. An efficacious drug, even if it be taken in a casual way and without knowing its value, acts on the system and effects the required cure; in a similar way, the all-purifvinq name of the Supreme, even when uttered unknowingly by an ignorant man, cannot fail to exert the influence of its natural purifying quality. How does it happen that fear-stricken Ajamila utters Narayana at a time when he is almost lost but for some credit (punya) acquired by him earlier? What could be that saving factor except the perennial chant of God's nectarine name in times past? This devout service rendered to the Lord earlier cannot and should not go in vain; it comes readily to his rescue when he needs it. The servitors of Vishnu effected the release of Ajamila from the noose of death; and . Ajamila recovered from fright and made reverent obeisances to tl:;l~m.

He recalled to mind how their words were in accord with Vedic injunctions and the Code of Conduct prescribed for devotees (Bhagavata dharma). He opened a fresh chapter in life by passing through the fiery ordeal of repentance. He felt ashamed of his terrible lapses. He destroyed the prestige of his parents and family; he incurred the wrath of his kith and kin; he wronged his loya I and devoted wife of immaculate virtue; he set at naught all his knowledge, acquired by sedulous study over years; he flung to winds all moral and spiritual values .:...: what for had he thus disgraced himself? To find pleasure in the company of a disreputable, volatile woman, a drunken avaricious harlot, for whom he felt an unaccountable lnfatuation I He now felt absolutely miserable for his reprehensible conduct. He wondered why those ghastly monsters who fastened him by the noose did not carry him to hell whlc'i he eminently deserved as punishment. He could not divine where his benevolent and fascinating saviours had gone. He felt convinced that a ~inner of hi:? deep erain W9",IQ nQ~ have l;I~en

¥ • • ,. , •

Episodes from Bhagavatam

bleseed with a vision of those magnificent beings but for some merit at his credit. He therefore made up his mind to devote all his time and attention to the cultivation of the virtues of truth and justice, purity and piety, mercy and charity. He struggled to obtain liberation from Samsara by overcoming the rajasic and tamasic tendencies, by conquering the inner enemies of desire, anger, greed, attachment, arrogance and envy, by joininQl the devotees of God in their acts of worship and recital of hymns and prayers. Ely a tenacious and consistent pursuit me (lOurseof.spiritual discipline and quest, he could reach the otimex of Ydgasamadhi, a state of sublime consciousness and btlss. freed from mortal coils, he could vision as a purified self (jiva). the resplendent servitors of Vaikuntha, He rendered 'humble salutations to them and became transformed into one of them; andascendlnq a divine chariot he reachedParamapai:1a and remained there ever after in peace and bliss.

The episode of Ajamila conveys cerain illuminating lessons to spiritual aspirants. Even people with a good background of pious descent, steady discipline and sound scholarship are liable to fall headlong into the bog of intemperate passion and immoral conduct. Exposure to passionate erotic scenes titillates the senses and provokes sexual appetites. Youth are particularly amenable to such temptations; and even those of commanding virtue and commendable self-restraint are unable to resist them. How then can the ordinary common folk withstand the unwholesome impact of the sexy visua Is of the modern screen, especially in the prevailing climate of a permissive society where laxity is considered a fashion? But such regrettable degradation need not necessarily end in utter ruin. There is nothing like eternal damnation even for the grossest of the sinners. Despair yields place to hope when the divine spark, long hidden under the debris of perverse deeds, blazes forth, and uttering the name of the Lord, establishes its presence within the heart of the sinner. Then, he becomes conscious of the enormity of his guilt. Repentance for past follies smites him hard. He has escaped being consigned to hell and its torments, only to pass through the more arduous ordeal of the purgatory of penitence and its cleansing proces~~9' Th~ mind reqriems towards the all-forgiving, all-merciful

Ajamila

Lord and chants His name, praying for succour and refuge. Like the phoenix rising from its ashes, the fallen sinner now springs forth into a bright saint and takes his place among God's servitors. The name of the Lord is stronger than the Lord Himself. While on this, it is worthwhile recalling how three robbers meeting at a rendezvous in a forest to plan the strategy for their next plunder utter the words: Vanecharamah,nadim taramah and na bhayam smaramah. In all the three verbs ramah is common; and utterance of the sabda, 'Ramah', has its own impact on the minds of the robbers. Though they have uttered the word 'Ramah' In a casual manner without any thought of God, the very mention of that word of mystic power has brought about a total change in the complexion of their character; they have given up their profession of thieving and become honest men. Such is the revolutionary potency of the Lord's name! Elders observe that the letters. Ra and Ma (which compose the name Rama) represent respectively agni beeja, the fire which effects purification by destroying sins and am rita beeja, the elixir which provides sustenance of an everlasting nature; and hence the efficacy of R.ama Sabda.

The urge to utter His name comes from His grace and reaches fulfilment inr:edemptit>n, moksha. In this context, it is interesting to recall to mind the life of Ahalya. A pious and virtuous lady falls, in an unfortunate impulsive moment, a prey to the amorous overtures of Indra and thus proves false to her husband, Gautama. Cursed by him, the fallen woman remains inert for long, like a spark hidden under ashes, till the sanctifying tounh of Lord Rama's foot rejuvenates her; she springs into her former beauty and charm, now made purer and more radiant through penitence. The Lord's touch has the same potency as the utterance of the Lord's nome. Both chasten and illumine and raise the fallen and the desperate to glorious heights of piety and devotion. The prodigal who returns home receives ampler consideration and warmer welcome from the father; the straying sheep finding their way back to the fold generate greater warmth in the heart of the shepherd !How mysterious are the ways and workings of Providence!

38

Episodes from Bhagavatam

1·6. GAJENDRA

A Sinner turned Saint

When a person is driven to an exterme state of desolation and despair, he may give up faith in God and become a cynic and get lost. But when he cogitates over the adverse circumstances which have led him to that condition, he cannot but realise that he himself is responsible, if not wholly at least partly, for the creation of that unfortunate situation. The reflection flashes across his mind that God has given him the power of discretion to judge what is right and what is wrong; and that he has misused or abused or neglected that divine faculty and has brought himself into peril. If only he has heard the promptings and the warnings of his inner voice and conducted himself in tune with the Divine Will, he will not have fallen into the Slough of Despond. He has simply believed that man is the architect of his fortune and has acted in a way that takes God's assent for granted. He has committed a lapse in notrecognising the value of the dictum: "Our wills are ours to make them Thine". Man, certainly, is the architect of his fortune. Yes, he can make or mar his life by the course he chooses to adopt in life. ·If he acts in consonance with the Divine Will, he shapes himself as a devotee, as a benefactor of the world. But if he chooses to exercise his will in accordance with the dictates of his instincts, senses and mind, ignoring his divine origin, he becomes insensitive to higher values and turns out to be an enemy to humanity. All the sams , to the person who pursues his unbecoming propensities, a time may come when he remembers suddenly the purposa of life and reverses its course and calls upon God for intervention and protection. Maybe, this turn for the better is the result of the accumulated afflictions which he has, by his own stubbornness, brought upon himself. Any way, though late he has

chosen the path of submission and surrender and sought lit

succour from Him. This is how an obdurate sinner may grow

into a saintly devotee.

Gajendra may be cited as an example of sinner turned saint. The supreme lord of the elephants, CQI1~9ioU$ of hls

Gaje'ndra

enormous might and power, roams about the forest In all his glory, attended by a large contingent of followers and accompanied by numerous admiring queens. As he marches with his retinue, the wild animals of the forest are scared and hide themselves in their lairs; the birds take fright and lie huddled in their nests; even the insects are stifled into silence and conceal themselves; the trees quake in fear lest the herds should try their strength on them. Such is the awe in which the denizens of the forest hold him. Swollen with pride and insolence, Gajendra moves about in all his majesty and makes a display of his vast strength in playful skirmishes with his hardy companions and of fond love in merry frisks with his amiable queens. As the day advances and the sun turns intolerably hot, the elephant-lord enters a vast lake with his retinue and indulges in merry sports with his queens. His jubilant mood encourages his followers to abandon themselves to hilarious merriment. They trample the lake with their heavy legs; draw large draughts of water with their huge trunks and direct them towards their companions in torrential jets; they pluck the lotus creepers from their roots and make havoc with their soft stalks and fragrant blossoms; they strike tenor among the aquatic creatures which hasten to safe retreats for dear life. The placid lake with its cool waters and sweet, scented flowers now presents a devastated look, denuded of all its beauty. This cataclysmic convulsion in the lake, caused by the rugged and obstinate elephant-herds rudely shakes the KingCrocodile from his balmy. resting-place. He wakes up, only to find what terrible havoc his native domain has suffered from the intruder Gajendra and his retinue. What appears a playful pastime to the elephants results in a terrible tragedy to aquatic life. What seems a merry sport to the cat is a terrible life-anddeath struggle for the rat. But the King-Crocodile is no rat. He. takes the challenge and attacks Gajendra with great courage' and resourcefulness. The opponents are equally matched in strength and prowess; and there ensues a prolonged fight. The crocodile digs his teeth in the elephant's foot; but the latter swings him away with a flashy jerk and moves towards the bank. But the repulsed crocodile returns with great agility and strikes again and pulls his enemy back into the lake. This

Episodes from Bhagav-atarn

process of attack and repulse goes on indefinitely with neither scoring a decisive victory. The retinue of the elephant-lord look on helplessly in despair; his queens shed hot tears of grief. As time passes, the crocodile, having the vantaqaof native element, waxes in power, while the elephant, failing to reach the solid ground, gradually wanes in strength. The tide turns in favour of the crocodile. Gajendra is physically exhausted; he loses his stamina; his joints are unhinged; his vital faculties are gouged out of their sockets; he is about to lose control and taint. In that serious predicament, when his confidence in his competence to protect himself gets shattered, it strikes him, in a flash, how he has, in his anog ant defiance forgotten Hari, the very Source of his magnificent affillenc~ and glory. Shorn of his egoistic pride by his failure to overcome his enemy or even to protect himself, and induced by his recognition of the Supreme Protective Power presiding over the

universe, he prays for Divine intercession. He sets up a paean of glorification of the Lord, the Source and the Sustenance of the entire universe and its final absorption into Himself, of the transcendental supremacy He holds and the energetic activity He imparts by His immanence in every created object, of His indescribable and inexhaustible auspicious qualities, of His incomprehensible nature as Spirit inaccessible, of the mysterious impenetrable veil with which He invests the worlds, of the gracious considerateness with which He treats those who put their faith in him and seek His mercy, of His ready availability to those devotees who cling to Him as their sale Refuge ........ and so on and so forth. Gajendra's praise of the Lord fetches no response. Doubt crosses his mind whether the all-seeing, all-pervading Supreme, who is said to abide with the spiritually illumined yogis and with the meek and the fallen, does really exist. It is usual for Him to save the weak when they are harassed by the strong; it is natural for Him to uplift the fallen wren they are oppressed by the powerful. But he wonders why, if God really exists, He does not think of his miserable plight and does not hear his desperate wail and does not show His mercy by rushing to his rescue. This doubt about God's existence and His concern for the suffering folk is short-lived. Gajendra blames himself for his ..

Gajendra

lapse in levelling unjust accusations against God. The fault lies with him if he has failed to evoke divine sympathy for him. He has not made a total surrender to God (prapatti). He recovers his faith, prostrates at His foot-stool and declares his firm conviction that He alone is his refuge, and pleads with all the intensity of a harrowing supplicant for His gracious intervention. Gajendra realises that the gracious Lord alone, and none else, can effect his rescue and save his life. It is this declaration of his conviction that marks the turning-point: the erstwhile arrogant, self-conceited reprobate becomes a humble, penitent supplicant for succour.

In the anguish, born out of crumbling faculties, Gajendra makes final use of the little strength left still in him in raising a piercing shriek imploring the Lord's mercy. This high-pitched cry of agony travels with the speed of lightning, forces a passaqe through the adamantine gates of Vaikuntha, reaches the remote mansion and cleaves the diamond-studded doors of the dalliance chamber, which is situated amidst pleasant groves of enchanting beauty, and strikes the ears of the Lord, who is then relaxing with his Divine Consort, Lakshmi. The appeal has an instantaneous impact. The devotee's panicky cry upsets the Lord to such an enormous extent that He suddenly breaks off from the sport and rushes, like one possessed, to the place from which the cry has emanated. His mind is engrossed with the sad plight of His devotee; he must find him relief without further loss of time. In this preoccupation, He is unmindful of the pleasant pastime in which he is indulging at the time. He leaves the chamber suddenly; He does not leave word with His spouse' as to what has caused him all that concern and anxiety; nor does He let go the hem of her garment which he has been fondling in His hand at the time; He does not summon His retinue; He does not care to arm Himself with His weapons; He does not command Garuda to carry Him to His destination. His absent-mindedness and sudden and hasty departure severely shake all H is servitors. Their consternation is shortlived. They bestir themselves and hasten after Him; Lakshmi close on Him; with her, the entire contingent of her attendants. after them, Garuda in close proximity; next to him, all th~

6)

Episodes from Bhagavatarh·

.1. . . S tho bow the mace, the conch, the disc and

ullilflC wiliapon, n...' .

their heels, the divine mtnsrrel Narada and with

t~ 011 ',Vh k th l'

h~m the principal standard-bearer. v Y. ma e ~ 1St long!

to' say that all the denizens of Valkunt~a file after the

!..era w.ith equal cel·erity. Vaikuntha transports Itself to 'wherever

l..oidgaes. Vistlnu reaches the la \<e,. sees the devotes in SOff} trp,ubie, finds the disc by His side. and employs this !Hi!~SISliPte weapon ~oeffect the rescue of Gajendra, Sudarsana 00 secc;md prompting; he executes his mission in a trice aoo I.M;IImadiJili8.s the waters of the lake with the lusty crocodile's warm blood.

15 not the Lord aware of Gajendl'a's plight before the Ilirtt0f seeks His help? He knows it. How can the Omnlscient B~ing be ig:norant of what is going on in the world? He sees, but wtilts. So \ong as Galendra believes that he can protect himseH with his own strength, the Lord stands aloof. But when he is disillusioned of the adequacy of his prowess to meet the Crocodile's challenge, he implores the Lord's mercy asa last H!50rt The Lord, who has been waiting for this call, responds immediately and hastens to his rescue. "Knock, the door shall op&!I'1"; "ask, it shall be g ivan." The Lord takes pity. on the devotee for the inordinate delay he has made in knocking at Helllven's portals. He should have sought His aid long before he has re8cnedthe point of collapse. The Lord is stupefied for a rooment wh!;l"n the call comes to Him. Perhaps, th is momentary ups.etis bam of His contrition that Hehas caused needless and avoidable suffering to His devotee by His dilatory tactic of 8ss.umin,inE:HtJierence till he appeals .for His intercession. But; He be$.tirsH4I!nselfon hearlnq.the piteous shriek and averts the impending catastrophe by timely rescue. Such is the Lord's immeasurable 10118 and solicitude ·for Gajendra that He is not contellt with eliminating his enemy Crocodile; He goes to the extent of running His hand smoothly over theElephanfs, released leg. The bairn of His miraculous touch relieves His devotee of all pain. revives his strength and rejuvenates his spirit.

Gaj,endra.is a personifi.ca~ionof the fundamental qualities of Tamas and Rajas in their grossest form. He feels proud of his

43

noble breed; he displays the arrogance of might and affluence; he revels in the power he wields as the Chief of the elephants. Conscious of his unequalled prowess and unquestioned authority, he exhibits stubborn intemperate egotism. He indulges in sensual appetites and carnal delights and whimsical actions in a spirit of reckless abandon. But even in such a medley of elements of coarseness, insensitivity, wildness and wantonness. there lies, deep within, a particle of Sauv!« nature that is

'otientedtowardsthe all-powsrtu! and over-gracious Divinity. No'one is absolutely wicked. No one is solely good, either. EVen the most virtuous person suffers from some lapse or othe'r: blJlt salvation rnay come to him sooner, even ·betause, by his very nature, he is attuned to godliness. But when the E'I'ephantlord realises the futility of all his possessions and the value of surrender to the Lord, the clim'ate becomes congenial for this spark within to blaze forth and secure redemption for him. Here is a wholesome lesson for all: there is no room for despair; there is hope of redemption even for the vilest of sinners.

As the story reaches its finale, the contestants-the Elephant and the Crocodile - turn out respectively to be King lndradvumna and Gandharva Huhu who, coming under a curse, have assumed those monstrous forms. The Gandharva gains redemption with the flashing chop of the Lord's disc, and the King with the chastening touch of the Lord Himself. The lesson is driven home to us that the sovereign remedy for all ills lies in His sanctifying touch; and it is up to us to realise its value and make earnest efforts to luvoke His grace by surrendering at His foetstocl,

'Itis interesting torecal] to mlnd 'how two bther-devetees, Dhruva, thechildprocl'1gy of devit3tion and Prahlada, t!1e)borh !devotee,react!tothe situations l1heyha\liefacedin the"irtelspecrive lives. It-Is only when His arr'C)gance, born 'of might and fpbwer, is 'shattered, when pined against a more formidable ;eri1emY,that Gajendra turns, in vuttar despair, to the merciful pl.z;'erd'ior deliverance and protaoticn. Dhruva's rnotlvatrorr-in )seeking the Lord'sfavour is anoffshoot ofa sense Of hurnitialtionand insult (suffered at the hands of a proud step-rnbther 'and, &'J1)liantfather) and a burning cravinqfor rataliatlon varrd 'r,ev'el'l9'etQre "'~'stI:lI;)Nsh' h isrightfu I ·PQsitiQn in ,tl!1'!; '~tfecti!Qn 'Qf

44

I:pisodes from Bhagav8t81l'l

his father and his claim of succession to the throne. Prahl ada is unique among devotees in as much as he has no personal favour to seek from the Lord: he is imbued from birth with the conviction that Vishnu is an all-pervasive, all-powerful, allknowing, all-merciful God; and he surrenders to Him with all humility and reverence as his sole Refuge. It is this strong faith that enables him to encounter, unshaken, all the troubles and tribulations and fiery ordeals and challenging tests, and come through them unscathed and triumphant. There is no trace of personal vanity in this splendid achievement; . there is only a sense of satisfaction that the Lord has proved him correct by His dual manifestation - as the Terrible and as the Merciful.

1-7. KUCHELA

A Model of devotional affinity in friendship

Kuchela, a pious Brahmin, was a disciple of Sandeapani along with Krishna and Balarama. He was keenly aware of the divinity of Krishna from the days of pupilage and so cultivated a spirit of reverence towards him. Krishna honoured Kuchela as an intimate comrade, while the latter adored him as Godincarnate. After completing studies, they took leave of their preceptor and parted from each other. In course of time, Kuchela settled in life, married and reared a large family; he was hard put to supporting it with his meagre resources. An erudite scholar of great righteousness, a storehouse of spiritual wisdom, an outstanding philosopher unswayed by the vicissitudes of fortune, an amiable man of virtue in full command of his senses and enjoying perfect peace - such was Kuchela, the ardent devotee of Krishna. Poverty stared him in the face; he and his family were driven to painful straits of misery. He found it derogatory to his self-respect to seek f~VQ'IJr from any quarter, H~ W~~ CQnt~n~ ~Q qvy~1I ill necel?sity

Kuehela

45

and manage somehow to meet his obligations, to the extent possible, with what little he earned. His wife was a lady of noble descent and singular virtue; she was an adept in household management; she possessed infinite patience and remarkable endurance. Despite all her efforts, she could not minister to the bare physical needs of her children. Her heart melted with pity and was consumed with pain when her hungry children craved for food and she could not appease their hunqer.. The acute misery ofa mother looking on helplessly on starving children could well be imagined.

She knew that her husband would not countenance any suggestion of seeking help from any quarter, however dire the necessity. But she made bold to approach him and tell him to think of a way to get over their sad plight. She put in, on a sly, a proposal that he could meet his boyhood-friend, Sri Krishna, and enlist his sympathy. She was sure that his gracious looks would redeem them of their gloomy poverty, in the same way as the sun's rays would chase away utter darkness. She eulogised Krishna as a Fountain of mercy, as a Redeemer of the woes of his devotees, as a god ever ready to stand by those who put their trust in him; she extolled his magnanimity in going to the rescue of even strangers, if only they chanced to think of him in their crises and sought his favour. She wondered how his liberality had no limits and' how he would not mind offering himself, if necessary, to redeem the supplicant from his perilous predicament. When such was his gracious reaction to stray supplicants, she was certain that his response to the needs of those who worshipped him with all their minds and hearts would be much more generous, in fact, beyond all imaginable measures and calculations. She hinted that if only her husband took the trouble of calling upon Krishna, who was at Dwaraka, immense benefits would accrue from that visit.

Kuchela could easily understand that his wife's words emanated from an acute feeling of excruciating misery caused by unbearable poverty. He welcomed her proposal as it would serve a double purpose: primarily, it would give him an opportunity to pay hi$ homage to iii cQmr?'Q~ Qfhis youth, wtlOlTl

46

Episodes from Bhagavtttam

he deemed as God-incarnate; secondarily, it might result in the redemption of the family from indigence. To meet him was in itself a blissful experience and would surely yield an auspicious result. Courtesy demanded that he should carry some gift, however humble it might be, to the great friend whom he was going to meet after a lapse of several years. Taking the cue, his wife collected some fried rice and tied it in a knot at the hem of his worn-out upper garment. Kuchela started for Dwaraka, with his mind filled with enthusiasm and spirit elated with joy.

As he neared the magnificent city, Kuchela· entertained disturbing thoughts: Whether a poor skeleton of a Brahmin

like him, in tattered clothes, would be permitted to enter the

city at all; whether. even if allowed, he could manage to pass

the palace gates, particularly when he had no means to grease

the palms of the watchmen and win their hearts. But his conviction that his fortune depended entirely on Krishna's gracious looks and that his friend and protector would not let him down dispelled his fears; and he boldly marched past various palatial gates without any impediment; he was struck with wonder at the magnificent structures reared for the sixteen thousand wives of

the lord amidst vast grounds and gardens; and his joy knew no bounds. Finally, he stood before a mansion with a tower plated with gold and studded with gems and diamonds; and as

he cast his looks within, he found, to his delight, the enchan-

ting Krishna relaxing with his belovedOueen-Eminent on a couch of soft swan-down and flanked by beautiful damsels wafting fly-whisks. He feasted his eyes on the fascinating figure and charming features ofthe Lord before him. How grand was that sight I With body glowing like sapphire, with lotuseyes radiating Iove, with gold ear-rings brightening the cheeks, with the diamond Kaustubha adorning the chest, with a lion's waist decked with purple silk, the Lord of the Yaduvamsa, the Protector of the celestials, the Refuge of the devotees, the ii Bestower of gifts, the Repository of all virtues, the Fount of mercy, the Adored of all the worlds, disclosed himself in all

his glory 1 Kuchela felt that his life attained fulfilment and that there was nothing that he desired after he was blessed wrth ~h'isexhilaratin~ visi'oTrof'~he lor9,

41

Even as Kuchals.rncved a few paces towards Krishna, the lord happened to glimpse him from a distance. He was surprised by this unexpected visit; more, he was taken aback to find his friend in. dlredlstress, emaciated in body, clothed in rags, ravaged. by .extreme poverty, and pulled down by unremitted hUt1g~roveran unconscionable stretch 01 time. He was visibly moved: he sprang from his couch and ran in haste towards Kuchela He .. gave him a warm embrace; honoured him with tha.courteaies due to a close relation and fetched him inside alild.,.g.e,atedhim .. byhis side on the couch. He was not content \l\!,ith,that.rneag.re.reception. He washed Kuchela's feet with w..p,~~r from· a gqld jug and sprinkled it over his head; he sr:peiil·neqlhis frtend's body with a scented ointment, made of sandal paste, musk, frankincense and other ingredients; he wafted the palm-fans to mitigate his friend's fatigue; he burnt incense and scented-sticks to provide a pleasing sensation as his friend inhaled the air; he rounded off the auspicious welcome with presenting before him camphor lights in bright gem-studded crucibles. He adorned him with garlands of fragrant flowers and honoured him with gifts of pan, a cow and calf. Rukmini stood by the side of the guest and wafted the fly-whisk to relieve him of the tiresomeness of his long journey. The women attending on Rukrnini and others in the zenana wonde.r,ed at the granpwelcome offered to the Brahmin. For them ltwas.a moot question as to whatgreat penance Kuchela had done to deserve the special honour of being seated on the couch reserved for the lord of all the worlds and receiving his personal attentions in the hospitality extended to him. It was a unique privilege not conferred on any sage or saint at any time before or after. Kuchela was overwhelmed with ecstasy; he was thrilled and dumb-founded; he could not comprehend the magnitude .ot his friend's magnanimity and the intensity of his love and considerateness for him; he failed to find words to express his gratitude for the honour done to him. It is clear that God takes into consideration only the impulses and the yearnings of the heart and not the external finery of appearances when He judges and evaluates the worth of the persons approaching Him. It is also made manifest that God conducts Himself with humility when He receives a genuine devotee and honours him with His services of even the lowest kind.

48

Episodes from Bhaqavatarn

Krishna was quick to notice his friend's embarrassment.

He wished to put him at ease. He cleverly diverted his attention by suggesting to him that they might spend some pleasant time by recalling the days of their tutelage under Sandeepani. He started by making kind surmises about Kuchera's wife being a fit companion and help-meet and a suitable match to one of his Vedic training and upbringing. Krishna could infer that Kuchela was like him, in discharging the prescribed duties without forging attachment to wife, children, home, lands, wealth and other types of material affluence or property. For, such was the way of life adopted by the wise, who knew the relative superiority of spiritual values. He recalled how their preceptor used to expatiate upon this subject and bring out clearly the esoteric meanings hidden in the scriptural texts. He paid a handsome compliment to Sandeepani as a Brahmin, pure and undefiled, devoted to the performance of all beneficent deeds; he honoured him for his vast illuminating knowledge with which he dispelled the dark layers of ignorance; he revered him for his profound spiritual experience which enabled him to enjoy the bliss of constant union with the Infinite Supreme. Though Krishna himself was a great teacher, he conducted himself with due decorum and humility before Sandeepani to set an example to the world that honouring the preceptor was a superlative obligation not to be trifled with on any score. Then Krishna indicated how all sections of society held him as an authority in laying the code of righteousness and as a purveyor of principles governing their mutual relations; and how he declared that he would not be pleased with the mechanical observance of his teachings as revealed in the practice of penance, ritual, self-restraint, Yagnya, charity etc.; and how he would rejoice only in those who devoted themselves whole-heartedly to the service of their preceptors and in those who clung to his feet in meditation to cross the ocean of samsaara.

Krishna then dwelt at length on an unforgettable experience shared by him with Kuchela during their sojourn at Sandeepani's hermitage. The two disciples were commissioned by their teacher to go into the woods and gather dry faggots

Kuchela

required to feed the sacrificial altar everyday. While they were engaged in their task, the sky was suddenly covered with deep dark clouds; a fierce gale blew over the forest with tremendous velocity; a heavy downpour of torrential rain filled the earth, eliminating the distinctions of high-level ground and low-lying areas; flashes of lightning and roars of thunder without intermission made confusion worse confounded. With the setting of the sun, even the twilight got dissipated and the advent of darkness accentuated the gloom. Not a thing was visible however much the eye strained itself. In that terrible situation, the bewildered friends linked their hands together so as not to lose company and hugged often to ward off the chill; they walked aimlessly the whole night, all attempts to find the way home proving futile. It was the consciousness of companion':' ship that kept their spirits up, even though physical fatigue drove them to the end of the tether. To their great relle r, they found the streaks of dawn breaking the eastern horizon; the unbearable silence of the forest was riven with the cheering twitter of the birds; it did not take much time for the welcome sun to make his appearance. Very soon they saw their preceptor, with anxiety writ large on his face, making a thorough search for them. He was relieved to find his disciples safe; he expressed his concern for their safety and felt grieved that on his account they got exposed to grave peril and faced much suffering; he deemed that in this way they had discharged their obligation to their master. He pronounced a benediction on both of them, wishirig them longevity, health and success, wealth and affluence, well-matched wives and worthy progeny; and took them back to his hermitage, raining love and affection on them. Krishna narrated this incident and enquired if it was not vivid in Kuchela's memory as well; he added that, in fact, there were innumerable other experiences which they shared with mutual love and affinity. Kuchela butted in and averred that none of those hilarious experiences could be erased from memory; they were so indelibly impressed on it. He went further and added that Krishna was the preceptor par excellence of the three worlds and it was but a mere pastime on his part to conduct himself as a disciple of Sandeepani. Thus did he express his vivid understanding and firm conviction

7)

~pisodes from Bhaga:va~~

his £Cianci was no ordinary human being but the very inC?~rn~tion of the Supreme.

Krishna receivecl the compliment with ~ genial smile a,nd .k~d him what present he had. brought for h.I$. boyhood-fri~nd Indclass-mate. He a,~sured .hlm. that, even If It be a trifle, he

lei, g"'adlyaccept it reckonmg Its value a thousand-fold, even

WOU, , I d hi . hi·

because it came from one who ove rm Wit a I his heart and

~\lt At the same time, he asserted that he could not countsm't'l'lCEl munificent gifts of huge value and of Himalaya~ Qta~eur offered by people who were not oriented towar~~ hI",. He declari;ld that he would welcome the offerings of tnose d~voted to him, even if they be of little or no material v$lue; a fruit, a flower, a leaf, even a spoonful of water, would b.$COl'Tle acceptable and that he would eagerly relish it a~ delici()us foqd. This pleasant assurance lifted the oppressive bqrden from Kuchela's heart, namely, the thought that a meagr~ quantity of fried rice, ,a trifle, was unworthy of being offered to his royal friend. But Kuchela felt embarrassed and stood silent, ashj!imed to make the offer. Krishna could divine, in a moment, the cause of [his friend's awkward situation. He knew that Kuchela would not, of his own accord, think of approaching him for any favour of material value, of worldly possessions and prosperity; that it was only to please his wife that h~ untiflrto,ok this journey; and that he had not the heart to dis~ obliye her by rejecting her weH- meant persistent demand. !KrIshna wished to provide him, that very instant, with all the amenities and pleasures which went beyond the reach of even fnora's affl.uence. Noticing a knot at the hem of his friend's worn-out upper garment, he enquired what lay within it; wtthout waiting for a reply, unravelled it; and taking a handful of fried rice in his palm. he declared that that gift alone would give him and all the worlds complete satisfaction. Relishing falsle, Krishna eagerly collected another handfu I of fried but Rukmini held her husband's hand and prevented him havjoga second helping, saying that what he had akeady was enough to bestow on Kuchela all the types

p,ossessions and pleasures in the world. Kuchela spent

night in his friend's mansion, surrounded by all the joys C't\eefed his heart, and rested on a couch of soft swan-down.

felt~s though he was i he celestial regia of pl~asufes to the very dregs. As he rose fro ing, he felt that an indefinable bliss filled his heart. le'av~'()f hisfrierid, krishna accompanied him for some distance ~hd bade him 'a h~l:Irty farewell. It is worth noting that God d6~s nOt wait to be asked; He gives unasked even because He t~~dsiH~ haart of the devotee, the intent and purpose of his vtsl(fo)-Ilm; He responds to the unexpressed wish in a measure Wili'ch stagger!:! expectation, nay, flouts even the utmost stretch 8frtnagih~JHon. .rheg.ift is pot related rto the deserts or the he~tfs ofth'e supplicants; it only conforms to the scale of the tord's gratioUs mLJHiflc6nce.

As he wended his way homewards, Kuchelawas oceupied with reflections on the happenings of the previoue day:

He wondered 'what could have been the merit earned by him in previous births that enabled him to enjoy the presence of the Eternal, the Effulgent, the'Merciful, tlie All-pervasive Supreme Lord.. How gracious was it of Krishna who, unmindful of the gulf that separated him from the mean lowly Brahmin,haa chosen toernbrace him as a dearly loved brother and seated him by his side on his couch; and not content with it, extended to him theprivileqes of an honoured sage by undertsklhq to Wash his feet with all fondness arid entrusting his beloved wife with the task of fanning him with fly-whisk to mitigate his ~atigue. Kuchela did not quite understand why Krishna, who treated him asa divine guest, refrained from bestowing any monetary gift on him Which he badly needed. On e littl'e reflection, Kuchela realised that Krishna must have withheld such conferment lest prosperity should go to his head and make him swerve from the Lord's service. But in his inmost heart, Kuchela held the hope that the ever-benevolent Lord, who could never keep any devotee unrelieved of.. his anguish, would not remain cold and indifferent to his legitimate needs.

Kuch'ela returned to his vllla~eand stood' 6efbre a maghif\centrTiarisi6nwhich seemed to n'ave~pfung 'l.Ip dUttng· his short ' absence. The apartmerlts with g'oI'dkindS"lil\i'er boverihgs ifionewith ihe5rightness Otitie \;un's rays aAa 'iHernel1dWetl Q6(;jlnf~s$' ¢T'il1!$ tl11o!¢h'~f.iea'!rns; the ~~Fd'~~!$ i?~H~ tWa·; ~VQV'~~

52

Episodes from Bhagavatam

amidst extensive grounds were redolent ~ith fragrant blossoms and ripe fruits and filled with the cheering notes of blackbirds,

err ts peacocks and other choristers; lakes of cool, crystal-

p .. 0 , d db'

clear and refreshing waters aboun eo, estrewn with lotuses

and tulips and other aquatic creepers, presenting a mosaic of variegated colours and a medley of fragrant smells. Numerous servants in attractive liveries and bright ornaments, beautiful belles in fine attire and dazzling jewellery, frisked about attending to their respective chores in the household. Kuchela wacs struck with amazement and stood there wondering who could be the fortunate master of that grand palace, which looked like a veritable shrine of l.akshml, the goddess of wealth and affluence. Just then a bevy of handsome girls, resembling the cel$$tial damsels, approached him with great humility and invited him into the inner apartments; they accompanied him, sillgillg and dancing all the way. Kuchela's wife, the mistress of tn,e .1'1eW mansion, was elated with her husband's arrival and stood at the entrance to receive him; in her fine dress and gUttering ornaments she looked like Lakshmi personified. She we,lcomied Kuchela with loving glances bedewed with tears ef joy; she made obeisances to his feet in her mind; she embraced him iR her heart. Their hearts were full with the ecstasy of newfound happIness and gratitude for this unexpected and sudden tum in their fortunes for the better....,.-· an immeasurable gift of thefll,argnanimous lord, Krishna. Words failed to communicate htr joy to each other; all the same, mind responded to mind, heart heaved to heart, spirit coalesced with spirit. Such was tbsrfctose mutual understanding and deep reciprocal love that the,oo was no need for superficial display or external manifestafl'oflor verbal communication.

It is usual for the beneficiary to forget the giver, while immersed in enjoying the gift. But Kuchela was an exception to the common run of mankind. He was ever conscious of the acute misery he suffered for long in abject poverty; he was' fuUyaware that he owed all his present affluence to the grace of Krii$.hna; he was keenly alive to the refined gestu re of cultured goodwill that gave abundantly without raking the p,ur;pOl)·e of Kuchela's visit even superficially. Kuchela realised t:h~t WQ.ive IJn~§k.~Q qnQ to ~ive ~enerously Without lTlea~ure;(,

'uehela

ppeared to be the Lord's method; It was not the needs of the

,

eneficiary that would deterfnine the scale of the gift; the ord's stature as a donor and his appreciation of the devotee's srvour and faith seemed to be in operation in the bestowal of enefices; hence they would exceed all expectation and flout nagination to conceive of their magnitude and value, Krishna latched the packet of fried rice from a reluctant and shameruck friend and accepted it as an invaluable present; and in turn gave him affluence excelling lndra's, Such benevolence vealed the inscrutable ways of the workings of His grace. rchela who understood this secret did not stray away from e path of devotion to Hari; he enjoyed his gifts with his wife It did not get entangled with them nor forge attachments to em. Kuchela rejoiced in unbroken contemplation of the iprerne Person and was assured of a place in Paramapada nang His blessed servitors.

Kuchela's story has its own salutary lessons to spiritual .plrants. There is no bar to the man of faith to approach his ad: if he advances a few paces towards Him, the Lord HimIf runs along to meet him and welcome him. The devotee's Iii frame, shabby dress and mean circumstances do not disialifv him for the embrace of his Royal patron; rather, they ake him dearer to Him by provoking His sympathy. God sees at His servant has been suffering for long; but He waits till , exhausts all his resources and finds no alternative to seeking ccour at God's hands. The question whether the solicitor s expressed his wish or not appears irrelevant as the Donor the Omniscient Lord; the question whether the supplicant serves or needs such gift does not arise as God is not sitting judgement over the issue. If God is to function as a Judge, iich mortal can stand the test of excellence? If He is to ss sentence on the merits of the people, He may have to late as many hells as there are people to punish their crimes. e moment the devotee turns to God for aid, it is God's .rcv 'that is pressed into service; and response comes tantaneouslv on a scale which is in tune with God's own 19nificent gene·rosity. The true devotee is grateful for the ti bl,lt he does 119t lose si~ht of the Giv'ilr whi!~ enjoyinq

Episodes from Bhagavatam

His gift. He draws closer and closer to the Deity and forQet~ himself in the bliss of service to flis Benefactor,

I ·8. NARADA

The luqulrer eternal into the Infinite Beloved

Narada was known in an earlier epoch (Mahakalpa) as Upabarhana, a Gandharva celebrity. The gandharvas were a branch of the celestials: they were famous for thelirmusical talent and skill in dance. They led carefree lives and lhdlilged in amorous sports and pastimes in a spirit of reckless abandon. Upabarhana had a magnetic personality. His comely face and lively features, his dignified demeanour and agile movements, his melodious voice and proficiency in dance - all combined to give him an irresistible glamour. Lovely damsels, longing for his company, crowded round him and made his life a saga of sensual pleasures, pastimes and amusements. The gandharvas, as a race, were epicureans; they believed that to eat, drink and be merry, marked the consummation of all that life was meant for and of its aim and purpose. Upabarhana made a name for himself as an adept in the musical rendering of the wonderful episodes of Lord Narayana's mysterious sportive activities.

The Prajapatis, progenitors of the various species of living creatures in the universe, were engaged in a Vedic ritual, known as devavrata; and they invited Upabarhana and the gandharvas and the celestial damsels to provide entertainment to the assemblage, by spotlighti'ng the Lord's anecdotes through their music and dance. Upabarhana distinguished himself by his renderings; but overcome by his passion for the charming damsels participating in the exercise, he left the venue in an unceremonious manner without even informing, much less Detaining the consent pf, the performers of the sacred ritual. Ft:>r'thi$ sacrileqe of braakinq off hls l,Indertal<in~ to sing the

Nara.da,

praises of the Lord in his infatlJC!lion tor the damsElI~, .h~,cl,!m~ in for condign punishment.

He wes cursed wherelw he loq hi~ Ce).estlal$tCltus and f~1I to the eart~ and he took bir~h as a son o.f a. SUd.ra Wqm~J1 who was workmg as a servant 'Il a Brahmin household. DllrJng his infancy, he was carried by his mother to the work-~PQt;a'n~ thus he had the opportunity to listen to the Vedic recitals of ,h~ master and his disciples. He showed an absorbing interesl'i~ them as he grew up. The master of the house was in:!w.e$~!El~ with the boy's earnestness and conduct; therefore, he had no hesttatlon to assign to him the duty of attending upon a'qoQ~ tingent of Yogis who planned to stay in their village for 'f61J.ir months (from Ashadha Pournami to Karthika Pournaml) . Th~ young boy of seven showed remarkable earnestness ~rid steadiness in attending u pan the anchorites and carrying o~!t their orders to the very letter. He would not think of joining other boys in sport; he would firmly resist the temptation to relax or rest. With infinite patience, he would stand at the appointed place, not minding exposure to sun and rain; he would run their errands without a trace of annoyance; he would eat, with avidity, the remnants of thel r food and feel gratified that it was his good fortune 1.0 have that privilege. Thus he rendered services to them with great devotion and held them in profound reverence. He heard their Vedic recitals with rapt attention; he listened to their discourses on Lord Vishnu's mysterious deeds with exhilaration; he feasted his ears with the melodious hymns sung by them in the Lord's praise. His mind was thus soaked in the nectar of His glory and became oriented to His service. Nothing mundane could diverlhis attention. Service of the Lord and of His devotees becamehi:s sale occupation. Under the benign influence of the Yogis,he could overcome the lower instincts and harmful propensities6f rajas and tames and develop devotion to Hari. With the ~dveFlt of Karthlk Pournami, the chaturmasa sojourn of the Yogis came to an end. As they prepared to move out, they expressed their pleasure for the manner in which the boy rendered services to them with patience and without any lapse, with devotion without diversion. Moved by pity and considerateness,

~pisodes from E3hagavaiam

initiated the boy, without any reservation, into the secrets of spiritual wisdom.

The boy put their instructions into practice. He realised

that all acts when consecrated to the Lord would cease to bind; Karma thus rendered would become Yoga. AndYoga would inspire knowledge of the Lord (Jnana) and lead to the cultivation ef devotion (bhakti). Constant contemplation on the form and attributes of Vishnu and perennial chant of. Pranava and His names would make the devotee reach the heights of equanimity (samyagdarsana), seen from which all things would lose their differences and appJ,iar equal. As the boy pursued this course of spiritual discipline, the Lord Himself was graciously pleased to endow him with knowledge about Himself and thus enabled him to grow in stature as a devotee.

But he could not leave his mother as he was very much attached to her. After discharging her duties in the Brahmin household, his mother, though tired, would express concern for him, feed him with affection, kiss him on the cheeks, fondle the ringlet hair on his forehead, embrace him with fondness, and put forth every effort to make him happy. The boy knew how illusive this pleasuJe was; and yet he could not pull himself out of it. Some weeks passed. One night as his mother went into the cattle-shed to milk a cow, she was bitten by a venomous serpent as she happened to tread upon it in the dark. She collapsed on the ground, struggled for a time in agony; and as the poison worked and spread over her body, she met with death in a short time. The boy was a witness to this harrowing scene; but he was not upset by attachment to his beloved mother. He found in this tragic occurrence an opportunity to free himself from worldly cares and devote his entire time to the pursuit of spiritual aspirations. He left home and proceeded northward, passed by cities, towns, villages, hamlets and tribal settlements, wild woods and groves, and lakes of clear waters abounding in fragrant lotuses. He reached the recesses of forests infested with wild animals and frightful birds and huge serpents. He entertained no fear. He took a bath in the cool waters of a flowing river and felt refreshed. He selected a shady bower at the foot of an Aswatthavriksha and sat

Narada

57

down to contemplate on the form of Hari as crystallised on his mind by the accounts and reports of sages he came across, He had an exhilarating experience; the Lord whose feet he was adoring in his mind seemed to present Himself before him;

. tears of joy trickled down his cheeks; his hairs stood on end; he opened his eyes; but the vision seemed to melt away. The agony of disappointment did not drive him to despa ir; rather, it urged him to renew his effort to recapture the blessed vision. The boy then heard a majestic Voice which declared that he wou ld not be able to see the Lord in his present life; but that his aspiration to attain Him would not become infructuous; it was only to encourage him in his pursuit that He had given him a glimpse of His manifestation; and that the devotion he had already cultivated and developed would not be lost but would get fructified in his next birth when, under the Lord's grace, he would emerge as His staunch devotee. The Heavenly Voice further declared that after a thousand epochs the whole world would undergo a total dissol ution and that during its re-creation, the boy would be born, shorn of all sins and lapses, and with his devotional fervour undefiled and unmitigated, and that he would acquire universal acclaim for his stature as a devotee of the Supreme Lord.

The boy bowed his head and joined his hands in humble salutation and gratitude for His gracious mercy. He overcame desire (kama);· he expelled anger (krodha); he extinguished greed (Iobha); he relinquished all types of attachment and delusion (moho); he annihilated arrogance (mada) and he destroyed envy and jealousy (matsara). He cultivated the habit of chanting the thousand names of the Nameless Supreme; he spent hours in ruminating over the anecdotes of the Lord's mysterious manifestations and miraculous deeds. With a mind chastened and contented, he remained steadfast in the contemplation of the Deity, Absolute and Perfect. In course of time, he felt the approach of Death; he then gave up the body which was composed of the five elements and was a product of the pile of Karma; he entered, by the grace of Hari, into the subtle body comprised of the pure quintessence of Sattwaguna. A devastating Deluge (Pralaya) overtook the Universe; Brahma the Creator, was intending to enter the Supreme Person (who

8)

iay stretched on the turbulent waters of the ocean) for his prolonged rest; the boy lost no opportunity in entering Brahms through the nostril along with the breath inhaled by him. There he lay during the aeons of Brahma's relaxation. But when Brahma awoke and began the re-creation of the Universe, the boy emerged out of his vital airs along with Marichi and other Hlustrious Rishis. He chose the life of rigorous celibacy, Gifted with a melodious voice and with a musical instrument (mahati) which had an inherent capacity of producing divine music, he rejoiced in extolling the nature, attributes and sportive deeds (Lee/as) of the Supreme Hari. The boy thus became the Divine Minstrel, under the name of Narada: and the prophecy of the Heavenly Voice thus fulfilled itself. Chanting the Lord's names and singing about His glories and propagating the message of His love became the sale occupation of his life.

It was in the" course of discharging his self-appointed mission of promoting the cult of Bhakti, that he came across Daksha's sons, Harvasvas, who were engaged, at their father's instance, in the performance of a penance for the purpose of procreating the human race. The venue of the penance was the plot near the lake, Narayanasaras, situated close to the confluence of Sindhu river and the Western Sea. A dip in the lake had a cleansing effect on the body and the mind; the place had a great sanctity and a congenial climate for carrying On penance in undisturbed tranquillity. As Daksha's sons set upon their task, Narada came to them and exhorted them to give it up as there was noth ing great in becoming progenitors of the race; on the other hand, there was great harm, in as much as they would fall inte the abyss of ignorance. And then, they would not understand the real nature of self; they would not earn redemption from the cycle of birth-and-death; they would be cast into. the prison of cares and anxieties: they would be tossed up in pleasures and hurled down in sorrows

and find no peace. Narada suggested that they should take to.' the pursuit of devotion to Hari which would lead' them to Paramapada where they could enjoy eternal peace and ineffable

bliss. Haryasvas were. convinced that' the course sugg'ested

by Narada was the right one to adopt and gave upvthepenance

enjoined upon them by their father. Daksha felt disappointed

58

~pisodes tram Ahagavatari'\

59

and miserable that his sons ignored his injunction and preferred the great path of devotion to Hari under Narada's influence.

Brahma appeared before Daksha and consoled him and rejuvenated his spirits. On his suqqestion, Daksha raised another contingent of worthy sons in the hope that they would fulfil his aspiration. Knowing their father's mind, the Sabalasvas, repaired to the same venue to which their elder brothers went, and began a rigorous penance with their minds steadily fixed on Hari, the Parabrahma. the very Source of all Brahmajnana, They spared no effort to please the Supreme Lord. They subjected themselves to any ordeal in discharging their filial duty. They stood on tip-toe; raised their hands over their heads and joined them in salutation; fixed their looks steadily on the sky; exposed themselves to the rigours of changing weather; fed on air for sometime and later gave up even that sustenance, Such was the tenacity and steadfastness they showed in. passing through the ordeal - all for the sake of having their father's wish fulfilled. The whole world shook to its foundations; the celestials were aghast with fright. Narada arrived to avert the impending catastrophe. He pleaded with them that they should follow the example set by their elder brothers: such a course should be deemed a special fraternal obligation worthy of adoption. He explained the banal aspects of total involvement in worldly affairs which their penance necessarily connoted; and expounded, by way of contrast, the excellence of the joys of spiritual attainment. Like their elders before them, the Sabalasvas, renounced the ritual code (karmakanda) and accepted the devotional course (Bhaktimarga). Thus Daksha's purpose was shattered a second time by the intervention of Narada. He took umbrage with the Divine Minstrel for his impertinent meddling. He went up to him in rage, charqed him with treacherously diverting the young innocent minds from the course laid down by him for them. He declared that, Narada was guilty of an unforgivable offence, as he misled his childranand . diverted them from discharging their duties to celestials (de vas) and manes (pltrus) as they were induced to relinqulsh the Vedic rituals. Daksha cursed Narada that he wQu.lct find no steady residence anywhere in the three worlds;

thi!lt ,he shoul<;l have to. r9<:l111 QbQutwi,hQ~'" rest: t~E!t he <?Qu!1;;f

eo

Episodes from 8hagavatam

ver cement friendships but thrive on causing conflicts only; ~~at. thereafter, none would acquire knowledge through instruction but only through experience. Narada remained unruffled during the pronouncement of this curse; and then said, "let it be so." One who could accept without demur and with perfect calm such a grave curse would be regarded as a magnanimous person, a jnani who WaS beyond the reach of praise or resentment (SorvQteetudu).

Narada has surrendered himself into God's keeping; he claims no individuality, no independence for himself; he is an instrument in His hands, to be used, as and when He pleases, to 5'erve His purposes. No curse could affect such a devotee, dedicated as he is to the service of the Lord. In fact, what Daksha has meant as a curse turns out to be a blessing to Narada and the world. Narada needs no resting place in any of the worlds; for, he finds habitation in God Himself. He is constantly on the move, and consequently in a position to collect and assess. at first hand, news of happenings in the entire universe. He is condemned to cause conflicts - yes, he provokes confrontation between the forces of evil and of good with an uncanny sense of timing, which turns out propitious for the triumph of the latter and thus proves beneficial to the world. It is said that raising feuds' is Narada's staple diet (kafahabhojana). It is good that he does not starve, For, with every feed of his, he contributes to the establishment of truth and righteousness and peace and happiness in the entire world. Thus, he is a universal benefactor. Again. the pronouncement' that no one can acquire knowledge through mere instruction but only through experience is no curse at all, for knowledge derived from teaching may, at best, be an intellectual equipment; but that assimilated through experience becomes a spiritual accomplishment.

A little reflection on Narada's life-history yields certain wholesome lessons. A tendency to sensual pleasures is fraught with disaster, even for a gandharva, when he is engaged in the performance ofa sacred duty of singing the Lord's praises during a cererncntal observance. Any inalertness or lack of ~l)lf-t~~trajnt on such occasions becomes an unccndonable

'.1.;'~ 1 • , ..• , ,

Narada

61

lapse and invites condign punishment. Hence vthe rloss of celestial lustre and heavenly pleasures and a precipitous fall to", the earth and birth in a family of indigent circumstances and of low caste. But to one who is aware of the reason for his: sudden transformation, the course to adopt in the present birth is clear. The child develops a new orientation to life, an entirely different outlook. Self-indulgence is altogether taboor. eventhei normal child's fondness for innocent sport is eschew- , ad; punctilious performance of tasks with infinite patience becomes an absorbing passion; consuming the left-offs of anchorites' food with avidity and pleasure seems to' bea coveted pleasure; listening to the Vedic recitals and discourses on God's manifestations and mysterious deeds lends a splrltuai glow to the tone and tenor of life. The boy of seven earns the' benediction of the Yogis and turns into a devotee in quest of the Supreme. Does his caste (sudra) come in the way of his receiving spiritual enlightenment? To the godly, there is only one caste, the caste of humankind. To the noble-minded, the whole world is akin, a single family (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam). Again, to the aspirant intent upon spiritual attainment, obstacles, are mere stepping stones to success. No frustration, no des'pair. The all-seeing God hastens to his help. blesses him with

a glimpse of Himself, reinvigorates hope and strengthens conviction in the devotee and assures redemption. If a devotee takes one step forward to Him, God rushes ten paces towards him in eagerness to claim him. Narada becomes the Lord's beloved son, in whom He is well pleased. Look at the transition from the glamorous, self-Indulgent gandharva of celestial status to the humble, patient, servant-boy treading the earth with head lifted up to heaven, treatinq the mundane pleasures as mere baubles of no value and aspiring for a life of spiritual light and finally to the status of a sage and devotee par excellence, Narada is a savant, a [nani.. he expels ignorance (ajnana) in others and inparts spiritual wisdom (jnana) to them and thus justifies his name. Narada is a devout bhakta; he lives, moves and has his very being in the Lord Himself; he revels in song as the Divine' Minstrel; he rejoices In self-enjoined mission as a promoter and propagandist of good; and he strives to establish Heaven on earth. Inscrutable are the designs of God and the workings of Providence!

Episodes from Bhag8vatam

There is no end to Narada's explorations into the - profundities of the nature of the Supreme Being, There are no limits to his lucid expositions of the multifarious facets of the Lord's innumerable auspicious attributes. There is no break to the spontaneous upsurge of melodious rhapsodies of soulful praise and glorification from the inexhaustible fount of his a11- absorbing devotion. The hundred-stringed mahatl registers every beat of his pulse; echoes ever stir of his heart; records every passing thought of his mind; responds to every burst of his emotlon: and simultaneously synchronises them into a ravishing melody, unique alike in voluminous boom and cascading alto. Narada thus stands apart and alone like the star in the meridian -as bard and minstrel, as inquirer and il1dminator, as inspirer and propagator of spiritual wisdom and devotional fervour. A universal favourite with celesfiats and demons alike, relied upon and agreeably welcomed everywhere as an honoured guest and guide, Narada rambles over the worlds, carrying out his self-imposed mission of establishing the kingdom of heaven on earth. To him we render our salutations in all humility and reverence.

It - OeVAS ANO o4ITYA~

Il - 9. KSHEERASAGARA MATHANA Churning of the Ocean of Milk

(i) Jndra's$trategy:

The Daitvas grow .in stature and might under Bali. The

. Devas are unable to withstand their onslaught. They run halterskelter for their very lives. They repair to Brahrna, explain their sad plight and seek his intervention. He thinks that the Supreme Lord alone can provide protection and leads them to Vaikuntha, Not finding Him there, Brahma singsinvocatory praises and implores His mercy. Vishnu manifests Himself asa blazing Fire with the effulgence of a thousand suns. Indra .. and his retinue, dazzled and awe-struck, remain mute and perplexed before this terrible Phenomenon. Vishnu takes pity on, His devotees and assumes the amiable human form with afasclnating smile playing on his coral lips. He is dressed in purple silk, adorned with ornaments of gold and diamonds, decked in fragrant flower-garlands, and equipped with the divine weapons - the conch, the disc, the mace, the sword, the bow and arrows. The Devas prostrate before Him in all reverence and crave for His protection. The Lord tells them that in the circumstances prevailing then, they have no chance of gaining ascendancy over the powerful Daityas. He has conceived of a strategy by which they can fortify themselves with life eternal. To this end, they have to churn the Ocean of Milk with Mount Mandata for the Churning-rod and SerpentVasuki for the binding Cord, and obtain the vessel of Nectar, the divine elixir which, when tasted, guarantees eternal life. He advises them that they should lie low for the time being, enlist the cooperation and help of Daitvas in this stupendous task; that they should not be disspirited with some initial reverses but should pursue the exercise with tenacity. He further assures them of His help in overcoming obstacles- and in securing for them the desired nectar to the exclusion of the Daitva participants.

~pisodes from Shagavatarn

lndra is a shrewd statesman. He contrives his moves

with great adroitness, Coming to know. that Sukracharya is out of the capital, he finds that time to be propitious to visit Bali. He and his associates approach the Daitya Emperor in all humility and tell him that they have come to sue for peace and friendship with the Daityas. But theDaltvas wish to make full use of this opportunity and spring to action with a view to eliminating, at one swoop, their deadliest enemy. But the magnanimous Bali intervenes and tells his followers that it is out of place for them to exhibit their prowess on anyone, how ever hostile he be, when he surrenders and pleads for friendship. Indra, an adept in diplomacy, addresses Bali in words of g.reat suavity, recalls to mind how closely akin they are to one another as children .of sisters, Adlti and Diti, with a common father, Kasyapa; reQr~t~, how,. unfortunate rnisunderst.andings have created a cl~ilVa9~and allowed it to grow into an endemic family feud, and observes how pleasant it will be for aU of them to .give up hostility and. live. in P7ace a.nd amity under Bali's leadership. He makes it a point to accost individually every important leader of the Daityas with affability to earn his goodwill. Then he moots his proposal thatall of them should pool their resources and make a joint effort toChtirn the Ocean of Milk and obtain nectar and share it among themselves, so that all of them, Devas and Daityas alike, become immune from death and lead eternal lives. Bali's aides suspect that there is something sinister behind his palpably innocent proposal and advise their master against accepting it. But Bali sees no harm in extending his hand of friendship, as the purpose is to benefit all. He is a lover of peace and if the joint venture brings about accord between the warring families and benefits them all with deathless lives, nothing seems more welcome to his noble mind. He decides to cooperate with Indra.

(ii) The churning project:

The two sides make preparations to put their project into operation. They scoop up the Mandara Mountain and lift it from the base and bearing it on their shoulders and heads transport it to the Ocean with steady steps. But on the way: they show signs of fatigue; some of them falter and the

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mountain crashes down with a heavy thud, with the result that a large number are crushed to pulp; some escape with bruises and a few flee in fear. They rue the mishap and blame themselves for launching upon a scheme that is beyond their capacity to execute. As they howl in despair, Lord Hari takes pity on them, appears before them, banishes their fear, snatches the Mountain like a ball and placing it along His side on Garuda commands him to transport it to the Ocean beach. The Devas and Daityas alike praise the Lord for His timely intervention and help.

Then they entreat the serpent Vasuki to wind himself around the mountain and help them to rotate it, and promise him a share in the nectar. As they drop Mandara into the Ocean to do the churning, the Devas catch the hoods of Vasuki and leave the tail to the Daityas to handle. But the proud Daityas consider holding the tail as derogatory to their stature and prestige and raise a dispute; but the Devas readily concede their right and change places with them. The churning begins. A few minutes pass. The serpent raises a hue and cry, teiling both sides to let go their holds. They are unable to keep the churning rod in position; and it instantly starts sinking with a loud noise. The two participating groups hang their heads in shame and grief at their incompetence. True to His promise of help. Lord Hari transforms Himself into a huge turtle, swims into the ocean's depths, gets under the base of the sinking mountain and holds it up. The Devas and Daityas find, to their joy, Mandara floating on the surface; they lift their voices in grateful acclamation of Had for this miracle. None but Hari alone can understand His mysterious sportive pranks; He is the support of Mandara, the churning-rod; He is the sustainer of Vasukl, the binding rope helping its rotation; He appears simultaneously among the active participants in the churning process. How amazing and wonderful! The whole scene is pervaded with a medley of various sounds - the hilarious cheers and shouts of Devas and Daityas, the harsh grating noise emerging from the friction of the mountain-base and the turtle-shell, the rough pelter of falling flakes rubbed off the skin of Vasuki. the hisses, shrieks and cries of manifold aquatic

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~pisodes from Shagavatarii

creatures as they are thrown up from the sea, and the roar of the turbulent waters rising and falling and emitting smooth curly foam. The two parties get tired, but are too proud to admit diminution of strength and enthusiasm. At the same time, they eagerly enquire Hari for how long they are to carry on to find fulfilment of their ambition.

(iii) Emergence of Halahala :

Hari smiles in reply. They get respite but not in the way they expect. They let go their hold on the hoods and tail of Vasuki and run for their ,lives, for they notice a blinding flame emerging from the middle of the sea. It rises to the sky with a sudden spurt. It is accompanied with deafening thunder! It spreads to all sides, spouting columns of thick smoke broken with intermittent flashes of spark- clusters. It blazes forth like the Fire at the time of Dissolution; jumps like a lion, leaps like a deer, soars like a bird, thus covering the entire world in its work of annihilation. It consumes whatever comes its way; it is irresistible. The Daityas and the Devas take fright and flee, recognising it to be the Poison Halahala.

Brahma and Prajapatis apprehend universal devastation and hasten to Kailasa and pray for lswara's intervention. They extol His nature and attributes; "You are the Supreme Lord of the universe; you are its Creator, Preserver and Assimilator; you are both the Trascendental and the Immanent Spirit; all the worlds take refuge in you; and you are in all of them providing life and sustenance; you are the Self-illumined One, without beginning, middle or end; you are the Paramatma, the Soul of all souls; Agni is your forehead; Kala is your movement; Earth is your footstool; Life is your breath; Water-source is your tongue; all quarters (diks) are your ears; the celestial realm is your navel; the Suns are your eyes; the sky is your head; the moon is your mind; Virtues and Righteousness are your heart; a Eternal One, it is impossible for anyone to comprehend you, much less to describe you! To One who has destroyed Death. with the flash of His eye, it is no task to eliminate the Enemy of all the worlds and all living creatures. As the Devas and Daityas are engaged in churning the Ocean of Milk, Halahala has emerged and is causing great havoc to the world and no

K5heerasagara Mathana

one is able to bring it under control. You alone, and none else, can prevent harm, can liquidate the evil-doer and vouchsafe protection and restore peace. Pray, be merciful and rescue us from peril." This piteous appeal has gone home; Siva is moved. He turns to His consort and observes that it is a ruler's primary duty to save his subjects from peril and protect the worlds from devastation. Rendering good to others, even if it involves sacrifice of self, is a glorious virtue to be assiduously cultivated and steadfastly maintained and put into practice. He further declares that if Hari is pleased, all the worlds will be filled with happiness; and that he has decided to save all living creatures by devouring the frlqhteninq Halahala. Dakshayani nods assent, saying that her lord may do what he pleases. Shaken by fear the celestials may have appealed to Hara to come to their rescue. Knowing its urgency, Brahma and others may have commended acceptance of their request; considering the good of the world, Siva may have been prompted to effect the rescue. But knowing that it is her lord who is to tackle the all-destroying poison, how is it that Dakshayani, who is under no obligation, encourages Siva to take the risk and volunteers consent to his decision? It is because she is SarvamangaJa (the universal benefactress) and it is her natural urge to wish good for all. Moreover, her firm conviction that the strength of her marital bond (mongalasutra) is unassailable, chases all fear about Siva's competence to meet the present challenge. Siva denounces Halahala in a thunderous voice as a universal malefactor and commands him to stop his havoc. He collects the poison as a lump in the palm of his outstretched hand, presses it hard into the size of a black-plum (jambuphala = neredu) and swallows it in a single gulp; and all this he does as though he is enjoying a sport. Strange to behold! As he drinks in the poison, the garlands of snakes adorning his chest do not shake a bit; no beads of sweat sprout on his body; his eyes do not take red tinge; the crescent on his pile of locks does not turn crimson; his lotus-face shows

.• no trace of fading. Siva recalls to mind that his stomach is the dwelling-place of all the worlds and to obviate harm to them, he stations the fiery poison in the cavity of his throat, as if i~ is a condensed phial of sweet fruit-juice,

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Who could have accepted with pleasure the gift of fiery poison? Hara, and Hara alone, has that unique distinction. The imprisoned Halahala darkens his neck and shines as an ornament to his fair complexion. Do not acts of benevolence glow like jewels about the benefactors of mankind? Brahma and Hari, Indra and Urna, raise a chorus of praise for Hara as a glorious benefactor of the universe.

It is worth considering why the churners of the Ocean approach Siva for rescue from the Poison Halahala. They have had Hari with them all along; He has helped them solve problerns of transporting Mandara to Ksheera Sagara and keeping it afloat. He could have saved them from the raging fiery poison also. It would not have been a problem at all for One for whom the Serpent-Lord, Adi Sesha, provides his coils as cushioned bed and spreads his thousand hoods as sheltering canopy. Why then should they turn to Kailasa ? It is possible that they have felt embarrassed to trouble Hari, time and again. even during the initial stages of their operation. They turn to Brahma for help and he leads them to Hara. Could it be because he deemed it meet that to control a virulent agent of destruction like the Halahala, they should approach Rudra to whom belongs the portfolio of the Dissolution of the universe. Or, could it more probably be that he wished to demonstrate to them that Hara is as easily accessible and as eminently competent as H ari in solving the problems of the devotees who approach him in their misery. In fact, Hari and Hara are one; two phases of the Only One Supreme. Hara is the perfect example of Thyagaseeli, a willing renouncer of a II pleasures and a magnanimous saviour of all living creatures from peril. He is in command of all resources of affluence but he willingly embraces a rigorous abstemious life; abandons imposing palaces and makes the cremation-ground his place of residence; rejects soft silk apparel and prefers to wear an elephant-skin; renounces myrrh, musk and frankincense and smears himself with ashes, gives up ornaments of gold, gems, pearls and other precious metals and floral garlands and revels in adorning himself with serpents. He is invincible; none can resist his might when roused to exterminate wicked tormentors. Does not his trident liquidate the Ttipurasuras in a trice ~n9 thus secure redemption for the

Ksheerasagara Mathena

em

world? His magnanimity, his high-minded generosity, his readiness to undergo any hardship for the good of the world make him unique. No wonder that the churners of the Sea repair to him for protection; for he is easily accessible, graciously generous and highly competent.

(iv) The Sea throws up its treasures:

The Devas and Daityas now revert to their undertaking and begin afresh the churning of the Ocean of Milk. A beautiful cow with spotless white skin, short horns, and attractive udder and luscious teats yielding nectarine milk comes out. The sages, who are usually engaged in the performance of sacrificial rites, become successful in their claim for this Kamadhenu; for, they need the favours she can bestow on them in the proper discharge of their duties. Next emerges a handsome white stallion of noble breed, Ucchaisrava; Bali appropriates him as a precious acquisition. A few moments later, further churning throws up Airavata, a mighty white tusker with a prominent hump and lusty proboscis and majestic gait; Indra lays claim to him. Then arises out of the ocean the magnificent Ka/pa vriksha, capable of satisfying the desires of aspirants and finds an honoured place in lndra's grove, Nandanavana. A bevy of blooming damsels with beaming faces and charming looks,. slender waists and prominent bosoms, arise from the sea. lndra admires their eternal youth and welcomes the apsaras to adorn his court and provide entertainment with their talents of music and dance. Soon after, the Milk Sea throws up Chandra, the Moon, who radiates mellow beams of soothing, refreshing light; and Brahma assi.gns him a place in the starry firmament.

(v) The fa$(:inating Lakshml :

All eyes ate rivetted upon the fascinating figure that now emerges from the ocean like a flash of lightning. Brahma seems to have put all his creative talents to exercise in rearing this unique beauty: . all the cream of the Milk Ocean has gone into the constitution of her smooth body; the flashing sparks of the monsoon lightnings are pooled together to provide shine to her features; the d.elicateness of the tender creepers and tendrils winddn~about their props and th~ qeliciou.sness qf 11'l·e fraGlrant

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Episodes from. Bhagavatam

lotus- blooms smiling at dawn, form the ingredients of her enchanting personality. A radiant face, wide eyes, mellow looks, crimson lips, frail waist, protruding bosom, prominent hips, slender limbs and delicate legs, luxuriant raven locks, lend an irresistible attraction to this matchless beauty. The admiration of the onlookers climaxes into adoration of her divinity. Arrangements are under way for her aupicious bath. lndra places a grand gem-studded seat for the graceful lady. The celestial damsels fetch gold vessels filled with scented waters; Bhudevi brings aromatic saplings; Kamadhenu provides milk and purificatory ingredients; and Vasanta presents a cup filled to the brim with sweet honey collected from fresh blossoms. Rishis recite benedictory Vedic hymns; Megha's choir play their instruments and drums; the conch booms; the flute wafts its melodies; and ,the mighty elephants guarding the eight quarters (diks) stretch their trunks, collect the sacred waters from places known for their sanctity and drench the lady with them. On the completion of this refreshing bath, Samudra arrives and presents his daughter with a pair of bright yellow silk garments; Varuna hastens to deck her with Vaijayantimala. a garland of fragrant flowers with their cups overflowing with honey. Viswakarma does not lag behind; he is ready with his bunch of sparkling gold ornaments, armlets and bracelets, wa istbands and anklets. Bharati adorns her with a pearl necklace, while Brahma fills her palms with a pair of never-fading lotus-blossoms. Vedas pronounce benediction on Lakshmi while Akasa proclaims that she will reign supreme over all the worlds. Her bewitching beauty astounds all those present: the rishis get perplexed; the celestials, yogis and saints are thrown into confusion; the Daityas are stunned into silence.

And Lakshmi surveys the scene before her; she shows an acute power of perception in assessing the relative worth of the dignitaries gathered there. Durvasa is an outstanding tapasvi but lapses into fits of uncontrollable anger; Brihaspati and Sukra are profound jnanis but have failed to relinquish attachment to the pleasures of court-life; Yama is dharma personified but he lacks compassion; Bali is an incomparable donor (daata) but he has fallen while fulfilling his commitment to Vamana; Surva, C.h~ndra and Vayu impress by their power, radiance and speed,

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71

but they are constantly on the move and are wanting in steadiness; Seshu enjoys life eternal (chiranjeevi) but he is subject to occasional outbursts of cruel ferocity; Kings like Raivata and Muchikunda are renowned for their excellent virtues and amiable behaviour, but they cannot eSC8)e mortality; Markandeva is immortal, no doubt, but he presents, with his ugly matted locks, a forbidding appearance. Indra has a charming personality; true, but with his roving, deceitful escapades (as with Ahalya) he becomes totally unreliable. The magnificent Brahma too is there, the great creator and the exponent of the Vedas; but, unfortunately, he has not overcome passion (kaama) as witnessed in his eager longing for Saraswati (his own creation) for his spouse. Then could Iswara be flawless? With all his fascinating qualities of easy accessibility, noble magnanimity and liberal munificence, he is unable to protect himself; he seeks refuge in Vishnu, when the evil-minded Bhasmasura tries to test the efficacy of Siva's boon on the donor himself. And now, Lakshmi sets her eyes on Vishnu.

In all this confusion; Hari alone remains calm; equanimity does not desert him. Lakshmi holds a garland of lotus-flowers in her hand; cogitates over the relative suitability of the worthies before her; and finally chooses Har] as her incomparable Spouse. Had's mansion smiles with inexhaustible affluence; He is the repository of all virtues; He is the personification of truth, goodness and beauty: He has overcome the six inner enemies of Desire, Anger, Greed, Delusion, Arrogance and Jealousy. Steadiness, alertness, efficiency, strength, power, vitality and all auspicious qualities ever attend on Him; above all, He is flawless, perfect, immaculate; none can equal Him, much less excel Him as a fascinating Lover; He radiates light and cheer all around. Lakshmi adorns Hari with the garland in her hand and entreats His consent; and with shy glances playing on His chest, she indicates her craving for a place thereon for permanent stay. Hari, who is not less eager to welcome her as His Consort, seats her on His chest, which is already made effulgent with the precious gem Kaustubha, and with gold and pearl chains and numerous garlands of fragrant flowers. Brahma, Rudra, Indra and other celestials,

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Episodes from Bhagavaiar'rl

sagas and saints rejoice; and rain flowers and shower praises on the Divine Spouses.

(vi) The Vessel of Nectar:

The Daitvas alone, as a race, look askance at this auspicious consummation and feel annoyed and disappointed. But they mind not, as their main purpose in join ing the Devas in the churning project is to acquire the pot of nectar. So they continue to participate in the joint venture. From the Sea emeroes Varuni, a voluptuous beauty with alluring looks; the Daitias ~rab her with Hari's consent. The parties carry on churning with all vigour; they have long been at it; they eagerly look forward to the emergence of the Vessel of Nectar The time is ripe to reward their labours and to fulfil their ambition. There appears before them a radiant youth, with the features associated with Hari, long sturdy arms, lotus-eyes with red smear at the edges, a prominent chest, flowing locks of shining smooth hair, beautiful neck shaped like a conch. He is draped in yellow silk and adorned with jewels of gold, pearls and precious stones. He is the reputed physician of the celestials, Dhanvantri, an adept in Ayurveda; and he holds the coveted Pot of Nectar in his hand. The Daityas immediately fling themselves into action and, brushing aside the Devas by sheer superiority in might and power, snatch the Nectar from Dhanvantri. They have appropriated the Nectar, the elixir they are looking for and longing to have; they have kept the Devas at bay. The celestials feel unequal to meet the challenge. They turn to Hari wailing over the loss and seeking His intervention. Harl responds to their prayer and assures them that He will safeguard their interest by exercising His mysterious power of spreading a veil of illusion over the Daityas.

(vii) Jaganmoltini:

There is a commotion among the various clans of asuras, daitvas, danavas and rakshasas, the most powerful among them trying to grab the pot of nectar, thus starting an internecine struggle for clannish interests or even for individual benefit. It is strange that a few among them suggest that it is unjust not to allow the suras, participants in the exploit, a share in

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the fruit thereof. This voice of sanity is drowned in the din of prevailing excitement. The pot changes hands so frequently from the less powerful to the more powerful among them; and the number of contestants mounts higher and higher so quickly that there is the danger of the pot itself breaking in the grabbing process. To arrest such a catastrophe, Vishnu transforms Himself into a jaganmohini, a woman of bewitching beauty and seductive charm. Every feature of her form, every movement of her limbs, every gesture in her demeanour, every posture she strikes. is calculated to attract attention and keep the asuras under spell. The Devas are in sore trouble; being of sattavic disposition, their minds naturally turn to God invoking His help. But the asuras in whom rojasic and tamasic elements playa dominant role are conscious of their might; they are sure that they can flout their natural enemy. Thought of God does not cross their minds. Their belief in their own supremacy makes them proud, arrogant. They fall into the snare spread before them by this fascinating lady. They accost her with due courtesy, praise her charms, enquire after her name and place and her wish in visiting them. But without waiting for her answer, they explain their problem and entreat her to distribute the nectar among themselves and their brothers, the suras, without fear or favour, with perfect impartiality. Jaganmohini sees how her charm has overpowered them. Yet, she expresses her wonder how they have come to put trust in volatile woman who is believed to be prone to enjoy the company of handsome men without scruple. She reminds them how elders caution people against confiding in women whose concealed thoughts, which rage as wild fire, are camouflaged with words of nectarine sweetness, and thus lead to a companionship which spells utter disaster. But since they are pleased with her, she says that she is prepared to undertake the responsibility and distribute the nectar as she deems just and proper. The sweet looks, the fond glances, the pleasing words, the lascivious gestures, and other myriad allurements which have accompanied her assurance, turn

into soft silken bands and gag them into inane silence.

The lady takes the pot of nectar, cajoles ali of them into

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Episodes frbmShagavat'aM

accepting her discretion in the distribution of nectar as indisputable. The Celestials and the Daityas observe fast, purify themselves with a bath. perform the ritual of oblations to Aqni, honour Vedic scholars with giffs, put on spotless attire and assemble in a hall and sit in rows on mats of kusa grass to receive their share of nectar. The Lady arrives holding the pot in har delicate palm; she seems to have felt tired under the weight of her heavy posteriors, protruding breasts and mountainous pile of luxuriant locks of hair; yet she manages to move with grace, her bright ornaments hightening her beautiful features. She makes the Devas and Daityas to form separate rows as she inwardly feels that giving nectar to Daitvas is like feeding poisonous serpents with milk; and that such unwisdom ensues in universal disaster. She addresses the Daityas with sweet words, cracks jokes with them in a jubilant mood, strikes graceful poses to feed their appetites, delights them with an array of honeyed smiles interspersed with magnetic sideglances; and the Daityas forget themselves, caught in the intricate web of mysterious illusion. Meanwhile, the Lady distributes the nectar among the celestials to their great joy. The Daityas are held back by their fear that the Lady might take offence if they appear to distrust her and press their claim for nectar. They remain tongue-tied as they are wholly absorbed in drinking in the nectarine beauty of the ravishing vision before them. One of the Daityas, Rahu, sneaks into the celestial row; but, on a signal from Surya and Chandra, Vishnu cuts off Rahu's head with his disc before the nectar can go beneath his throat, and accords a place to it among the planets. Vishnu thus helps His devotees and denies Daityas even a drop of nectar.

Lord Hari is accused of committing an inexcusable fraud on the Daityas and exhibiting an unjustifiable nepotism towards the Devas in this episode of Ksheerasagara Mathana. But how far is this verdict fair? The Devas have, at the very outset, approached Hari for help to rehabilitate themselves after their utter rout at Bali's hands. Their attitude and conduct have always been governed by satthvaguna, by their orientation towards the Supreme Being and humble surrender 10 Him. They deem themselves as belonging to Him and therefore are obliged

75

to' carry out His commands and render all services in a spirit o,f humility. There are occasions when they deviate, under tne impulsions of rajas and tamas, from the path of duty. But they soon repent for their follies and crave His pardon. Thus whatever they think or say or do is in accord with the Divine WiJ~ or Ordination. There is thus ample justification for Hari to prcmote the interests of His devotees. It is Had who suggests the project of churning of the Ocean of Milk to obtain Nectar, the divine elixir, to make them impervious to death; it is He who suggests involvement of asuras in the exploit; it is He who transports Mandara to the Sea, when the combined hordes faN under its weight; it is He who transforms Himself into a huge Turtle and prevents the mountain from sinking and keeps it afloat; it is with His indirect connivance that the two parties approach Siva with Brahma at their head, and obtain rescue from the raging all-destroying poison, Hafahala. His gracious help at every stage has come in response to the prayers of SOfas. Though the ssuros have experienced reverses and shared the benefits of Hari's favours along with the devas, their obtuse minds refuse, all along, to recognise that there is a Supreme Power to whom they should submit. Such humility is foreign 10 a race in which rajasic and tamas;c tendencies flourish and find eloquent expression in acts of arrogance and stubbornness, wantonness and wickedness. To make nectar available to them is to' strengthen the forces ot ev il and work towards the ru in of the world. Jaganmohini has nowhere promised that she will distrlbuteneetar with an even hand among all the participants, although the Daitves have expected it of her. She has made a eommitrnent in a skilful way keeping all options to herself, leaving none to others: She has said that shewoulcl cl'lstri'butethe nectar according to the best of her understanding and that they should accept her decision w,ithout disputing its merits or demerits If the Daityas have failed to get the fruits of their labour, they have themselves to blame. It is true that their contribution to the success of the project is considerable; but it is not given to all to gain their ends in any undertaking, particularly to those who are out of favour with Providence. Moreover, at the time of distribution of nectar, the Daityas seem to have Tost themselves in excitement and enjoyment,

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drinking a different elixir, the nectar of Jaganmohini's beauty and charm. Why then complain that they are deceived? They have deceived themselves, How can those who, in the arrogance of might and power, fail to recognise, and surrender to, the Supreme Being, expect to realise fulfilment of their ambitions? There is no point in charging the Lord with nepotism. Each one gets what is due to him, what he deserves to have; that seems to be the law of Providence.

The churning of the Ocean of Milk suggests a process of discipline to spiritual aspirants. Milk represents God's nature, form and attributes in all their expansive splendour. With our intellects (which have acquired knowledge of God) as the stirring instruments, and with our hearts (which have cultivated love of God) as the binding cords, and with the divine and demoniac qualities (which constitute our nature) handling the two ends of the cords, we engage ourselves in this spiritual churning exercise. Unmindful alike of the pleasant and painful experiences during the process, we have to pursue tenaclouslv our arduous task till we attain the end-product, the paramo purushartha, the arnrita, the divine elixir, of ineffable bliss. Be it noted that this bliss is reserved only for those whose minds keep away from immersion in sense-pleasures, whose hearts are riveted to a steady contemplation of His affluence and splendour, whose souls are absorbed in complete selfdedication to Him and surrender at His gracious footstool. This blessing of immortality is denied to those on whom this discipline has no effect, on those who continue under the dominance of their demoniac tendencies and perverse hostility to every thing divine.

.lswara$:ne.Jasanmoh in i

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II '- 10. ISWARA AND JAGANMOHINI

Hara comes to know from the celestials how Hari has thrown a veil of delusion on asuras by assuming the form of Jaganmohini, a woman of unrivalled beauty and charm, and has managed to distribute ail the nectar among the devas exclusively. He. is eager to see that fascinating female form of Vishnu; and so he goes to Vaikuntha with his beloved Consort to entreat Him to bless him with that vision. To Vishnu, who is the Supreme Lord, the All-m-all. Creator, Preserver and Destroyer of worlds, the Transcendental and Immanental Power, nothing is out of reach, everything is possible--even the assumption of an enchanting female form. Vishnu beams a smile at lswara, assures him that He will give himthe joy he has asked for, but cautions him not to be inalert, not to forget himself even for a moment. So saying, Vishnu disappears from sight,

To tempt the Daityas (in whom rajasic and tamasic propensities predominate and carnal and sensual appetites set the tone and tenor of their lives) with His lovely female form and f1fng them into confounding illusion is a mere child's play for Vishnu. But to exercise a similar spell on Siva (who, being a compound of the essence of sattvaguna, commands unruffled equanimity) demands a much greater manifestation of charming features and alluring manoeuvres, And Vishnu's manipulatory tactics defy challenge and display their invincible power in subjugating Siva and making him a slave of all-consuming, raging passion.

It does not take long before· a Lady of comely face, lovely eyes, charming features, appears before Siva playing with a ball in a garden. Her sleeky curls of hair playing on her forehead, her alabaster cheeks radiant with the wavy reflection of the diamond ear-studs, her prominent breasts peeping through the thin, silky veil, her frail waist shaking under her sprightly movements, her gold necklaces and chains, her armlets, bracelets and anklets brightening her slendsr Tlmbs. her garlands of sweet, aromatic leaves ~nd fragrant flowers yvaftinginto~icating sensations --it is' a, Vision nevEjr; < bef9t~

witnessed by Hara. It is strange that H era-who has reduced to ashes Manmatha (Cupid) when he has tried to provoke him into love, who has overthrown Yama (Death) when he has stridently attempted to carrv off his devotee, who has annihilated the universal manace, the Tripurasuras with his ftaming Trisula-Ioses command over his mind and succumbs to the allurements of the Lady before him -- and that too, in the presence of his beloved Consort, whom he has honoured as his 'better half' in appreciation of her beauty, love and devotion. Such is the mysterious power of the veil of ltluslon spread by Hari as Jagaflmohini that even Siva throws an caution. restraint and decency to winds and pursues the Lady with unconcealed passion, cravi~ng for her companionship~ Seeing that her magic has begun to work, the Lady emp4eys wily tricks of seduction in quick succession, f1in€ls arrows of side-glances at him; tempts him with genial smiles; confuses him with receding steps; attracts him with striking postures, exposing her alluring anatomy; confounds him by concealing herself behind flowery shrubs and yet takes care to announce her presence through the tingling of bells of some of her ornaments; reappears at a distance;· handles the ball witt deftaess to disclose the delicacy of her fingers; throws it up and observes it with upl if ted face to reveal the splendour of har conch like neck; drops it down and bends her looks to the earth so as to expose to view the beauty of her p.o$teri.or~, legs and feet: repeats this sport with the ball till Qe.ad<s of sweat spread over her face like pearls and provide relief to her coral lips. Noticing that Hara is thrown off his guard and is in hot chase of her, the Lady speeds Up, fon:c,Hes deer aad peecocks on the way, enjoys swings itlcreeJiler Cradles, m10tlnts hiIIQck$, jumps into cool bowers. excht,;ul\lgesi greetings with lDi'~ds and thus enjoys aiR exci.lling, S:P0f,·t • - aH this pastime is int~nded to captivate Hara and d'l!a'g him closer i,oto the net of iHusi0n.

True, Hara has olller,c,Ql1ile CupJd al)Q triumphed over Kala and s1:.1bju€la;ted Yal1T!9anp· d,fl~tro¥ed the TriplIras uras.. Evan ~@J;}. !is J:le, ls 8Qsplute!y helple$,$. anq. is uoable tl) with,,~~.§t t~~ sf;Jaf7Pa;How~,.Qf t~i$._ c!1~nmin9' J;l1.a.ip~n'§ lo,Qk.~.

Hara is now clean bowled.· He has lost the power to th:i.nk. He has become oblivious of his great virtues. He is not conscious of the presence of his wife and retinue. Heady passion drives him headlong the moment he notices the 'lady hastening to cover, when a squall of wind denudes helr of her upper garment. When passion gets overcharged, modesty and decency become the foremost casualties. H ara runs after her; it looks as though Cupid, whom he has formerly eliminated in his rage, has come back to life to wreak vengeance on him. Hara comes close and extends his hand to ct asp the hem of her flying garment; the excitement reaches its pitch and results in ejaculation. It is only then that he comes to his senses and realises how woefully mistaken he is in pursuing an illusory vision as a reality.

The Lady transforms herself into Vishnu and smiles. Hara stands before the Supreme Lord, embarrassed and crest-fallen. But Had compliments Siva, for it is given to him alone, and to none else, to perceive, and know through experience, the efficacy and supremacy of the mysterious power (Maaya) that He controls and wields for the good of the Universe. Hara and Parvati praise the gracious Lord for His magnificent qualities and take leave of Him with hearts full of joy and gratitude.

This Episode shows how it is not possible even for Siva to understand, much less pierce through, the mysterious power of the Supreme Lord in creating the Universe, in preserving it and resuming it into Himself and in the multifarious sports He indulges in for His own joy and for the good of the Universe. The Rishis of old have, by their power of introspection, delved deep into the evolution of the Universe and, by God's grace and sheer intuition, visioned the entire process and recorded their observations. Metaphysical exposition of the Universe could go no further -- And they have come to the inevl'tabie conclusion that the designs and workings of Providence remain inscrutable; that they are beyond the reach of intellect and imagination. Modern science makes investigations to find a rationa 1 exp I anation of the process and succeeds to a ce rtain extent; but it looks aghast when its conclusions prove wrong; it has to express wonder at the inscrutable power of a Supreme

Episodes from Bhagavatar

Intelligence governing the entire Universe. The thesis th, the universe is formed by a fortuitous coalescence ( certain elements and that it disintegrates when they fa apart in an equally casual manner has been advanced an rebutted in the immemorial past. The truth is that eve the most illumined sages and celestial lords have failed f understand, much less unravel, this mystery of God's powe and its workings.

II - .11. EMPEROR BALI AND VAMANA

Emperor Bali is e magnificent personality; he holds pre-eminent place among the rulers of the Danava race. H has imbibed from his grandfather, Prahlada, a fervent faith i the existence of a Supreme Power, a strict abidanced in trut and a meek surrender to His all-governing will. He has ass' milated from the glorious example of his father, Virocharu the value of liberal philanthropy and the pleasure it give when extended to the point of extreme self-abnegatien an exercised without any expectation of reward. A rare admix ture of these virtues in a proper measure in Bali's constitutio makes him an admirable ruler and an attractive gentlemar

I. Bali's supremacy:

Adityas (suras) and Daityas (asuras) are the children ( Kasyapa; the former are the offspring of Aditi and th latter of DitL Though they have a common father and fc their mothers two sisters, they have developed mutual il will from the very outset, possibly because of different cor stitutional tendencies which are hard to reconcile. Th internecine family feuds recur intermittently with varyin fortunes, with Adityas scoring victories some times end Daitv, at other times. When Bali becomes the ruler of the Daitya

Bali and Vat:liana

81

heproves to be mightier by far than lndra and the celestial lords and consequently holds sway over all the worlds. 'Reeling under the asura onslaught the devas approach Brahma and Siva for protection and advice. In their turn, they lead them to the Supreme Hari to implore His mercy. The Lord counsels patience, for the time is not propitious to gain ascendancy over the Daityas. He suggests to them a strategy, the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, and advises them to seek the participation of Daityas in this stupendous task of obtaining nectar, the divine elixir, which would make them impervious to death. He promises to be with them and help them realise their ambition and see that the Daityas are denied the reward of their toil.

2. Indra's strategy:

In working out this strategy, Indra shows remarkable skill; approaches Bali. laments the unfortunate hostility that has sprung up among children of sisters with a common father; invites him to join in this venture of obtaining nectar from the Ocean of Milk and share the benefit of securing deathless, eternal life. The Daitvas wish to avail themselves of this opportunity and do away with Indraand his companions. The noble-minded Bali intervenes and restrains his followers from causing offence or danger to Indra who has come to seek his friendship. Even a sworn enemy is to be treated with courtesy and kindness when he seeks reconciliation. Bali is a lover of peace; he does not take recourse to war, unless circumstances compel him to that end. He sees no harm in extending his hand of friendship as the purpose is to benefit all-devas and daityas alike. But Bali's aides have their reservations; they suspect that something heinous is hidden behind the apparently transparent proposal. But Bali is too magnanimous to yield to such suspicions and sets aside their advice. The absence ef Sukracharya from Bali's court at that time makes lndra's task easier; and the Daitya Emperor is caught in the web of lndra's machinations.

DaitYas render willing and hearty cooperation to the celestials during the churning-operations and share the tasks

11 )

82

Episodes from. ehagavaiam

and the troubles. True. to His assurance, Hari responds to Indra whenever he is in trouble and prays for. help. He transports Mandara to the Ocean on .Hls mount Garuda, when the combined. forces get crushed under it; He assumes the form of a huge Turtle to keep the Mountain on His shell; He accompanies Brahma when the latter seeks Siva's intervention to save the worlds from the blazing poison, Halahala; He indirectly helps the celestials when they appropriate to themselves the various 'beneficent creatures emerging from the Ocean durinq churning: Kamadhenu, Kalpavriksha, Iravata, damsels of eternal youth and charm,

Chandra etc. He accepts Koustubha and Vaijayantimala

and finds a niche for the charming and affluent Lakshm; on His own bosom. Finally, He becomes Jaganmohini; andi the Lady throws all under the spell of her charms, and distributes the divine elixir among the celestial hordes and denies Daityas any share in it, not even a particle of it. Through all this churning operation, Bali plays no particular role beyond extending to the celestials the cooperation he has promised to give. It is only at the end that Sal i sees how lndra has played a mean trick on him and how his armies are cheated of their due, for all their contribution to the success of the exploit.

3. Bali's defiance and discomfiture:

The Asuras are deprived of their share of nectar by Jaganmohini under whose spell they remain till the nectar is exhausted. By the time they realise how they are deceived, it becomes too late to repair the damage. Disappointment makes them furious and Bali marshals his forces for combat with Indra. The Suras under Indra fall into battle array, their epirits enlivened with the draught of nectar. A severe battle snsues, the stalwarts on either side cheering their hordesto give a good account of themselves. They are well-matched:

Indra challenges Bali; Guha opposes Taraka: Varuna faces Heti; Yama confronts Kalanabha: Viswakarma engages Maya; Surya opposes the sons of Bali; Soma defies Rahu; Aswins set themselves against Vishaparva; Agni flares up against Pulorna:

et'ili and Vamana

Maruthsrage against Nivata Kavachas and thus every-

hero chooses his opponent for a display of martial prowess and skill in the wielding of weapons. Pitched bettles take place among the various battalions and the din of mutual challenges and clashes of weapons rises high. The entire battle field is strewn with the dead and the wounded; blood flows freely in streams; corpses of horses and elephants and broken chariots add to the ghastliness of the scene. lndra appears invincible; all the weapons employed by Bali fail before his opponent's superior arms. Driven to the extreme" Bali disappears from the scene, takes recourse to unfair methods, conceals himself behind a veil of darkness and hurls stones and meteors and creates by magic wild animals and poisonous reptilsa, to do havoc among the enemy ranks. The Suras now find themselves in a miserable plight and set up a howl of despair and agony and pray for Hart's intercession and protection. Moved by pity for His devotees, Had arrives on His mount in all His splendour, dressed in purple' silk, adorned with all his ornaments and equipped with His divine weapons. H ari's advent chases the illusory vision spread by Bali; the Suras rise reinvigorated and renew the fight. The mere thought of the Lord and mention of His name produce an immediate effect on the devotee and save him from the danger that confronts him. Kalanemi aims his spear at Garuda; Had intercepts it and employs it to kill the Danava. Mali and Sumali and Malyavanta mount a joint attack on Garuda; Hari hurls his disc and chops off their heads. Indra and other celestial lords, inspired by the presence and blessings of Hari carryon a furious fight. Bali and his armies put upa eounter-attaok but without success. lndra draws his potent Vajrayudha and challenges Bali to defend himself. He blames him for employing unfair methods which expose him to the ridicule and condemnation of all noble warriors. Bali makes a dignified reply; "The victor of yesterday may suffer defeat today; none can determine the result of battle with any certainty. Success and defeat, affluence and indigence, are like earthen-lamps swayed in the breeze, like the phases of the moon waxing and waning. It is therefore foolish to feel proud, anticlpatlnq sure victory". InQra'~ vQnfic;l~nc~ i~ b<;l~ed

Episodes from.Bhagav.atam

on the support Vishnu has given to him andthecelestials .a little while ago. Bali is thrown off his chariot when Indra's well-aimed spear strikes him. Noticing his friend's fall, Jambha challenges lndra; he strikes lravata, which reels under the blow. As Indra hastens to mount his chariot, the Daitya pierces the charioteer, Matali, with his lance. lndra becomes furious and strikes off the enemy's head with his flamings.word, Vajrayudha. Coming to know of Jambha's death, his brothers Bala, Paka and Namucha, crowd round Indraand make him the target of a joint attack. They spread devastation all around; they wound the charioteer; they annoy Indra with a consistent barrage of shafts. The celestials raise a cry of panic. But lndra breaks through the cage of arrows and shines. l:ike the sun emerging from clouds. Wielding the sword with great vigour he makes his passage through the enemy hordes, felling their leaders on the right and left. As the asuras fall back, unable to resist lndra's onslaught, Namuchi checks him hurling his mighty spear at him. Indra breaks it and aims his Vajrayudha at his throat. Strange to see that his mighty weapon, which has always succeeded in its mission (in wrecking the wings of mountains, in liquidating Vritrasura and in blasting multitudes of opposing enemies) now fails unaccountably; Namuchiremains unscathed and the perplexed Indra .stares at vacancy, 4. mysterious voice from the sky proclaims that the asura enjoya dnvulnenabllltv from any weapon which is entirely dry or wholly wet and counsels Indra to chcosea.weapon .that suitsthepurpo;se. Thus advised, the celestial lord loses no time find presses into service an arrow made qf toam .{pbefilamu);and 10 and behold I -the head of Namuchi .rolls tothegrOl.J.n~f. The celestial lords flourish in~every p~rtof the battle field and rout the .arrniesof theenernv, I ndra hasscojsd a ,glQrious victory; the enemies flee helter-skelter: Aanc;iharv.as hall tIW··v:ic,tqry withso.ng and celestial damsels with .dance; saqes shower their.blessings while Yakshas and Siddhas raintlowers onlndr.a .and the other chiefs. Narada arrives at the biddinqc] Brahma, compliments the victors, advises them to cease hostilities as mosr of their enemies are dead or wounded. The ,jut?.ilant suros lI,Ve,nd,hejr way to Amaravl:lti. Tn!?sUrviv()r~{l.mon~ the a~uras ~ath!i)r

Bali and .Vamana

round their King and escort him to a place of retreat. Meanwhile, their preceptor, Sukracharya, arrives and learns of the sad happenings. He revives the dead asura heroes and hosts by employing Mritasanjeevani vidya, a potent special incantation of which he is the sale master. Bali shows a remarkable equanimity of mind even in this humiliating plight of utter defeat; because he knows that life is full of vicissitudes and one has to take them in one's stride.

4. ..~~I.i's rise to power :

Bali's has, underSukra's blessings and guidance, reestablished his power and ascendancy, He performs a great sacrificial rite known as Vlswajidyaga, following his preceptor's instructions, to the very letter. Pleased with his offerings and oblations, the Sacrificial Fire presents him with a bright gold chariot, steeds of noble breed and great mettle, a lofty mast with the flag-design of a roaring lion, a resplendent bow, an impregnable armour and a pair of quivers filled with fiery shafts. Prahlada, his grandfather well-known for purity and piety, bestows on him a garland of ever-fresh and never-fadinq lotus-blossoms. Sukracharya blesses him with a superb gift of a conch, excelling the moon in whiteness and mellow light. Bali distributes his wealth and possessions among the deserving Brahmins on a magnificent scale and earns their goodwill; he humbles himself before the elders and obtains their blessings; he offers worship to the great Deities with all reverence and secures their gracious favours, Bali once again rises in stature and strength; he summons his generals and armies, pools his resources; and sets out on an expedition against Indra. Hurt pride provokes him; vengeful retaliation for earlier defeat urges him on. He must prove his supremacy over the celestials. Then only can he have peace and joy.

Bali lays siege to Amaravati. His armies dispose themselves at crucial points. They blow .thelr: cenehs and' horns and trumpets; they beat their war-drums; their enthusiasm and excitement in hurling challenges at their oppanents makes the y.esl:Jltingdin~ofrighteniflg tbat:1he Iadleeeollapse .. 8ind ithe. ~~fJ:lw,art$I()$e he a rt, I n.dr~ ih.il1}?~lf.f~i~l:> ll!3rM,Qll~~.Q .. face 6~iH,